The 2009 NIT Brackets, 2009 NCAA Brackets Picks and Predictions

 

The 2009 NIT brackets have been announced and the Vegas odds will be up shortly. Auburn and Florida headline the top seeds.  The big March Madness betting line though is up for the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. To get NCAA Tournament tickets, FatHeads or team gear check out the Guy Store.

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Rockets look to blast past the Hornets, the Caps meet the Thrashers, and college hoops fans start filling out brackets.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

Both the Rockets and the Hornets will be looking to get back into the win column on Monday night when the two teams meet in New Orleans in one of five games on the NBA schedule. Houston was upended 88-85 by the Spurs on Saturday despite a 21-point performance from Ron Artest. New Orleans was blasted 97-79 by the Bulls on Saturday, with Chris Paul leading the team’s attack with 29 points.

Also on the NBAs schedule for Monday: Toronto at Charlotte, Portland at Memphis, New Jersey at Denver, and San Antonio at Oklahoma City. The Spurs got 28 points and eight assists from Tony Parker in that win over the rival Rockets, and they beat the Thunder 109-104 at home in their first-ever meeting in December. The Thunder fell 106-95 to the Suns in their game Saturday night.

Monday sports picks

No need to wait until the NIT Tournament picks and predictions or even Big Dance betting odds as there are several big sports picks for Monday. On a 22-4 run with NBA totals, Kongpop Sukhibomrong, head of the famed Pan-Asian Syndicate which dominated Asian and European soccer for years has now taken over the North American sports scene. Pop’s syndicate is the most requested source of winners in the history of the SuperLockLine and MasterLockLine. Today get three NBA totals

Sports service out of New York is No. 9 this year in the NBA and No. 11 all-time. (Stats are out of 620 services and syndicates monitored, rankings based on total net units won based on one-unit per play). They go for their sixth straight NBA Game of the Year winner tonight on Portland/Memphis. Click now to purchase sports betting picks from the top sports services or you can get more information and a free sports pick

The march toward Madness . . .

College hoops gets a night off on Monday before action resumes again on Tuesday with the Play-In Game between Alabama State and Morehead State. The field for this year’s Big Dance was announced on Sunday night’s Selection Show, with Louisville, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Connecticut earning the top seeds for the tournament. Those teams will see their first tournament action on Thursday and Friday when March Madness finally gets underway in earnest.

There are actually three other postseason tournaments vying for your attention this year, most notably the Postseason NIT which will stage first-round matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday and eventually wrap up at Madison Square Garden on April 2. As well, there’s the College Basketball Invitational, which also has first-round games Tuesday and Wednesday and concludes March 30-April 3 with a  three-game Championship Series. Finally, there’s the new CollegeInsider.com tourney, with games starting Tuesday/Wednesday and a championship March 31.

Sharp players will check out ScoresOddsPicks.com for exclusive and free sports handicapping databases for March Madness picks and predictions.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

The Capitals will be gunning for their fourth straight victory on Monday night when they play on the road in Atlanta in one of just two games on the National Hockey League schedule. Washington made it three straight wins on Saturday, holding off the Hurricanes for a 5-4 victory. The Thrashers have been red hot as well; they knocked off the Sabres 4-3 on Saturday for their fifth consecutive win.

The other game on the slate will take place on the west coast, with the Kings playing host to the Predators. Los Angeles fell 2-1 to the Sharks in a shootout on Saturday, with Erik Ersberg stopping 38 of 39 San Jose shots on the night. Nashville is coming off a 2-0 win over the Coyotes on Saturday night, as Pekka Rinne stopped all 18 shots he faced and J.P. Dumont had the game-winning goal.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

The World Baseball Classic continues on Monday with a game between Venezuela and Puerto Rico at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The Venezuelans toppled the Cinderella team from the Netherlands 3-1 on Saturday, while the Puerto Ricans blasted the United States 11-1 in their first game of the second round. The winner of that Monday matchup advances to Wednesday’s pool final. The other WBC game on Monday will take place at San Diego‘s PETCO Park, and will be an elimination game between the losers of the late Sunday contests.

Nets-Nuggets Odds Preview

The New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Pepsi Center.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Nets lost to the Clippers 107-105 as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (201).
Vince Carter scored a game-high 41 points for the Nets and Brook Lopez chipped in with 14 points.
Renaldo Balkman dropped 22 points to go with 11 rebounds for a double-double on Saturday, as the Nuggets cruised to a 107-94 victory over the Clippers. The Nuggets managed to cover the 12.5-point spread, while the 201 points fell UNDER the night's posted total of 206.
Carmelo Anthony added 18 points and Nene Hilario chipped in with 17 in that win.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 3 straight games.
Denver has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 28-38 SU, 34-31-1 ATS
Denver: 42-25 SU, 36-30-1 ATS
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing New York are 6-4
After playing LA Clippers are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7

Denver most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Memphis are 7-3
After playing LA Clippers are 4-6
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 12 of New Jersey's last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Jersey's last 7 games on the road
New Jersey is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver
Denver is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games
Next up:
New Jersey at New York, Wednesday, March 18
Denver at Memphis, Wednesday, March 18

Spurs-Thunder Odds Preview

The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Ford Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Spurs listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Thunder, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Spurs held on for an 88-85 win over state rivals, the Rockets at the Toyota Center Saturday.
San Antonio covered as a 2.5-point road underdog while the final score played under the 182-point total.
The Thunder were bounced 106-95 by the Suns last time out, as 7.5-point road underdogs. The combined 201 points fell well UNDER the posted total of 233.5.
Russell Westbrook tossed in 20 points to go with six rebounds and seven assists.
Current streak:
Oklahoma City has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
San Antonio: 44-21 SU, 34-29-2 ATS
Oklahoma City: 18-48 SU, 39-26-1 ATS
San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Houston are 8-2
After a win are 6-4

Oklahoma City most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Chicago are 3-7
After playing Phoenix are 2-8
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
San Antonio is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Oklahoma City
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
San Antonio is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
San Antonio is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games at home
Oklahoma City is 15-4-1 ATS in its last 20 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 8 games
Oklahoma City is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Next up:
San Antonio home to Minnesota, Tuesday, March 17
Oklahoma City home to Chicago, Wednesday, March 18

Rockets-Hornets Odds Preview

The Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Hornets will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at New Orleans Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Hornets listed as 4-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Rockets couldn't stop Tony Parker, losing 88-85 to the Spurs at the Toyota Center Saturday.
San Antonio covered as a 2.5-point road underdog while the final score played under the 182-point total.
The Hornets were swept away in the Windy City, losing 97-79 to the Bulls at the United Center Saturday night.
Chicago covered as a 2-point home underdog while the final score played under the 193.5-point total.
Team records:
Houston: 43-25 SU, 32-35-1 ATS
New Orleans: 41-24 SU, 28-35-2 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Detroit are 6-4
After playing San Antonio are 5-5
After a loss are 9-1

New Orleans most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 6-4
After playing Chicago are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
New Orleans is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing Houston
New Orleans is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Next up:
Houston home to Detroit, Wednesday, March 18
New Orleans home to Minnesota, Wednesday, March 18

Trail Blazers-Grizzlies Lines Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at FedExForum.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Trail Blazers lost to Atlanta 98-80 as a 4-point underdog on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (188.5).
Brandon Roy led the Blazers with 29 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points in the loss.
The Grizzlies upset Detroit 89-84 as an 8-point underdog on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total( 183).
Mike Conley scored a game-high 20 points for Memphis and Rudy Gay added 15 points in the win.
Team records:
Portland: 41-25 SU, 33-33 ATS
Memphis: 17-48 SU, 29-35-1 ATS
Portland most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Indiana are 3-7
After playing Atlanta are 5-5
After a loss are 8-2

Memphis most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Denver are 3-7
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Portland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
Memphis is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Memphis's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing at home against Portland
Next up:
Portland at Indiana, Wednesday, March 18
Memphis home to Denver, Wednesday, March 18

Raptors-Bobcats Lines Preview

The fans at Time Warner Cable Arena will be treated to a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Bobcats when they take their seats on Monday.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Raptors defeated Indiana 110-87 as a 3-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (214.5).
Andrea Bargnani scored 27 points to go along with nine rebounds for Toronto, while Pops Mensah-Bonsu added 21 points and eight rebounds in the win.
The Bobcats fell short against the Timberwolves, losing 108-100 at the Target Center Saturday.
Minnesota covered as a 5-point home underdog while the final score played over the 190.5-point total.
Current streak:
Charlotte has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Toronto: 24-43 SU, 24-40-3 ATS
Charlotte: 28-38 SU, 39-27 ATS
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Charlotte are 2-8
After playing Indiana are 5-5
After a win are 5-5

Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Sacramento are 3-6
After playing Minnesota are 4-5
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Toronto's last 9 games
Toronto is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games at home
Charlotte is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Charlotte's last 12 games when playing Toronto
Next up:
Toronto home to Charlotte, Friday, March 20
Charlotte home to Sacramento, Wednesday, March 18

March Madness 2009 Round 1 Previews For Big Dance Bettors

The world’s top March Madness picks and predictions site OffshoreInsiders.com presents a look at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament from the standpoint of beating the bookmakers.

All quoted records are against the spread unless over/under records are specified. For the latest Big Dance Vegas odds and betting line check out the college basketball odds.

Radford-North Carolina

North Carolina is 26-6 off an straight up loss and 40-18 in nonconference games. They are 0-7 against teams with a winning record.

USC-Boston College

USC is 5-0 overall. Boston College is 22-8 on neutral courts and they’ve covered five straight NCAA Tournament games.

Butler-LSU

Butler is 37-15 in nonconference games. The Tigers are 5-0 off a double digit home loss, but 1-7 on neutral courts.

Michigan-Clemson

Michigan is 3-7 their last 10 on neutral courts.

Morgan State-Oklahoma

Morgan State is 3-9 nonconference games. Oklahoma is 0-5 against teams with a winning record.

Akron-Gonzaga

Gonzaga is 2-6 in the NCAA Tournament.

Western Kentucky-Illinois

The Hilltoppers are 16-5 on neutral courts and 40-17 their last 57 nonconference games according to the sportsbooks. Illinois

Binghamton-Duke

The Blue Devils have dropped four straight Big Dance games.

Minnesota-Texas

The Golden Gophers come in on a 4-11 slump. Texas is 3-7 against teams with a winning record.

Cal State Northridge-Memphis

Memphis is 11-2 their last 13 against teams with a winning record. The Matadors are 7-2 off straight up win.

Maryland-California

California 1-5 overall run.

Mississippi State-Washington

Mississippi State is 6-0 overall. Washington is 7-0 off a loss.

Northern Iowa-Purdue

Northern Iowa is 7-2 to the Big 10 yet 2-10 their last 12 nonconference overall. Purdue is 0-6 to the Missouri Valley.

Texas A&M-BYU

Texas A&M is 10-1 off a ATS loss and 46-22 opponent winning percentage of .600 or greater. BYU 1-6 off ATS loss.

Chattanooga-Connecticut

Connecticut has dropped seven straight NCAA Tournament games.

Robert Morris-Michigan State

The Spartans are 9-0 off straight up loss.

For March Madness 2009 picks, predictions and spread winners, it’s always OffshoreInsiders.com   

President Obama Announces 2009 NCAA Tournament Stimulus Plan

President Barack Obama has announced a stimulus plan for the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Under the proposal, the most successful teams will have wins removed from them and redistributed to the most inept squads.

At a rally to promote his plan, Obama told a citizen merely identified as “Joe the Face Painter” that the successful teams must “share the victories.”

The 2009 Big Dance brackets see Yeshiva College as the top seed in the Eastern Regional. The Reverend Jesse Jackson immediately demanded a boycott of all Yeshiva games noting that the school has no black rabbis on their staff.

The surprising top seed in the Western Regional is Trinity Washington University. When conservative commentator Laura Ingraham pointed out that Trinity Washington does not even have a men’s basketball team and that they may have been given top seed because it’s the alma mater of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Joe Biden was quick to respond.

Biden retorted, “When the stock market crashed, I recall President Franklin Pierce going on ESPN and reassuring America that their bracket office pools would get a New Deal.”

Obama also announced creation of the Gerrymandered grouping, the “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Pacific Ocean Region” in which Sacramento State was given top seed. When posed as to why the Hornets are going to the Big Dance with a 2-27 record, Obama commented that head coach Brian Katz should not be help accountable for the fact the team has only deteriorated under his leadership because the program he inherited had problems “wrapped in a big red bow when he got there”.

Hence Sacramento State will be granted a free pass for four years and possibly eight if the New York Times plan succeeds. Wright State was given the top seed in the Midwest because Obama likes the name.

In a related note, President Obama’s choice for Selection Committee Chair, Dave Bliss has come under fire. Apparently unknown to the White House vetting committee is the fact that Bliss was fired as Baylor head coach when he tried to cover up circumstances surrounding the death of player Patrick Dennehy. Selection Sunday Spokesperson Jim Harrick called it “a minor transgression” and blamed the controversy on Rush Limbaugh.

This year’s NCAA Tournament will be broadcast exclusively by MSNBC with radio play-by-play being handled by Air America.

Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will handle objective commentary on television while Arianna Huffington of the Huff and Puffington Post does the radio chores.

Nets-Clippers Odds Preview

The New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at STAPLES Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Nets listed as 2-point favorites versus the Clippers, while the game's total is sitting at 202.
Devin Harris went for 27 points, eight assists, and seven boards for New Jersey in its 109-100 loss to Portland on Friday night.
Portland covered as 7.5-point home favorites as the teams played over the 196.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
The Clippers were defeated 107-94 by the Nuggets last time out, as 12.5-point road underdogs. That game's 201 points fell UNDER the night's posted total of 206.
Steve Novak and Eric Gordon each had 17 points in a losing effort for the Clippers.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 2 straight games.
Los Angeles has lost 7 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 28-37 SU, 34-30-1 ATS
Los Angeles: 15-50 SU, 25-40 ATS
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Denver are 4-6
After playing Portland are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6

Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Golden State are 2-8
After playing Denver are 2-8
After a loss are 2-8
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Jersey's last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
LA Clippers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing New Jersey
LA Clippers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey at Denver, Monday, March 16
LA Clippers at Golden State, Tuesday, March 17

Suns-Warriors Odds Preview

The division rival Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are set to renew hostilities on Sunday when they meet at Oracle Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Warriors listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Suns, while the game's total is sitting at 243.
The Suns rallied with 34 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Thunder 106-95 on Saturday. The Suns covered the 7.5-point spread, while the 201 points fell well UNDER the posted total of 233.5.
Leandro Barbosa netted 22 points and hauled down five rebounds, and Steve Nash added 18 points in the win.
Stephen Jackson finished with 31 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds to lead the Warriors over the Mavericks 119-110 on Friday night.
Golden State covered as 1-point home favorites as the game played over the 223-point total posted by sportsbooks.
Current streak:
Golden State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Phoenix: 35-31 SU, 26-39-1 ATS
Golden State: 23-42 SU, 31-33-1 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Philadelphia are 6-4
After playing Oklahoma City are 7-3
After a win are 4-6

Golden State most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing LA Clippers are 4-6
After playing Dallas are 5-5
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Phoenix's last 8 games when playing Golden State
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Golden State's last 8 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games at home
Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix home to Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 18
Golden State home to LA Clippers, Tuesday, March 17

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