Boston vs Chicago MLB Betting Preview
Chicago’s south side will be the site of a battle between the Red Sox and the White Sox Thursday night.
Chicago’s south side will be the site of a battle between the Red Sox and the White Sox Thursday night.
No team has been more of a disappointment so far this season than the Los Angeles Angels. They poured tons of money into Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson and the team has started out 6-11 through 17 games. Tampa Bay is 5-1 at home so far in 2012.
The Mets started the season red hot, but after being swept in yesterday’s double-header against the Giants they are just 8-8 on the season. Miami is 7-8 on the year, but they are only 2-6 away from home.
No team has looked better in the first couple weeks of baseball than the Texas Rangers. Texas got to Jon Lester early last night, and the Rangers have been smashing the baseball all season.
A few years ago this would have been a battle of two division leaders, but the Twins have fallen on hard times the last couple years.
The Phillies have all sorts of injury problems, and they have started out the season by winning just one of their first four games.
Virtually nothing was expected out of the New York Mets this year, but they started the season off with a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.
The Miami Marlins have a whole new look this season. No longer are they the “Florida” Marlins, and no longer do they have low expectations.
The field of 68 has been narrowed down to the final two teams. The Kansas Jayhawks will take on the Kentucky Wildcats Monday night in the Superdome. The winner will cut down the nets and be crowned 2012 NCAA Champions.
This rivalry is played every year but rarely twice. Back in December, Louisville’s was a 10 point underdog so all their recent successes have done is earn themselves another point of respect.
On the second day of Elite Eight action we see another matchup between #1 and #2 with the second seeded Kansas Jayhawks being tabbed as favourites.
While Duke was knocked out by Lehigh in Round of 64, many people did have Baylor meeting Kentucky in the Elite Eight in the South Region.
The Ohio State Buckeyes played a very interesting game to make it to the East Regional final.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (30-7) vs #1 Syracuse Orange (34-2)
Saturday March 24
East Region – Boston, MA
7:05PM
Moneyline: Ohio State -150, Syracuse +140
Spread: Ohio State -3
O/U: 136
Ohio State
Against Cincinnati they looked pretty good early, horrible in the middle then finished strong.
Strong enough that they are now the favourites against the region’s #1 seed.
I find this result interesting. Does it mean that Cincinnati is very good because that is not what I saw Thursday night.
Should be a very competitive game.
Against Cincinnati it felt like the Buckeyes were always controlling the action. I didn’t realize it at the time but they scored 14 more points at the foul line.
Aaron Craft was super disruptive on the perimeter both on his man and others. The Bearcats are not blessed with playmakers on the perimeter so I think their defense will be challenged more against Syracuse which can avoid Craft’s presence a little easier.
Jared Sullinger and Deshawn Thomas both played well, when that happens this team gets all the scoring it needs.
Syracuse
It is a #1 vs #2 matchup but can’t remember the last time a #2 seed was the favourite. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Against Wisconsin I thought the Orange played pretty well and lets not forget that Ohio State lost to those same Badgers, on their own homecourt, in a game they needed for the Big 10 regular season championship.
Being a #1 seed doesn’t mean you have to trounce teams.
I have been fading Syracuse a bit this year but I love this team as the underdog.
On Thursday night the Badgers were awesome shooting from deep but the Buckeyes do not present the same challenge.
I am curious to see how the zone affects Jared Sullinger because when you can neutralize him the OSU offense can be pretty ordinary.
I am expecting another good game from Dion Waiters tomorrow. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they have to put Craft on him to slow him down.
Spread Pick: Syracuse +3
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Syracuse 72 – Ohio State 70
The Cincinnati Bearcats are on a serious roll right now. No they did not win the Big East Tournament but check this: in their last 11 games they are 9-2 with only 5 points separating them form 11-0; 5 of those wins were against ranked teams with their only losses to tournament teams South Florida and Louisville.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Thursday March 22
East Region – Boston, MA
9:45PM
Moneyline: No money line currently listed
Spread: Ohio State -8
O/U: 129
Cincinnati
I am not saying the Bearcats are my pick to win it all but they certainly deserve to be here and won’t be intimidated by Ohio State.
Cincinnati is coming off a win against Florida State which is no easy task.
Guard Sean Kilpatrick got his game back scoring a team high 18 points as forward Yancy Gates was neutralized in the post by the Seminoles. The game against FSU was far from pretty but it showed the Bearcats have more than enough grit.
I really like the way they locked in at the foul line making 82% of their shots (they were 64% during the regular season).
Ohio State
I suppose I have to eat some humble pie after Ohio State eliminated my Gonzaga Bulldogs. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
In the first half the Zags were all over the Buckeyes but their staying power wasn’t very strong, surprising because I still think they are the deeper team. Ohio State didn’t dominate but they got the job done.
Fellow Ohio school Cincinnati is in the way but this is a favourable matchup despite the steam behind the Bearcats right now.
I am still looking for the evidence that Jared Sullinger is going to be a good player at the next level.
If that is the case he should be able to have success against Bearcats beast of a power forward Yancy Gates. I think it will be a bit of a stalemate which is fine for the Buckeyes who are superior at all the other spots.
They will probably win going away this time. Next us Wisconsin? Maybe.
Spread Pick: Ohio State -8
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Ohio State 72 – Cincinnati 62
Kentucky has lost two games all year long and one of them was to the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers beat the Wildcats 73-72 in Bloomington earlier this year thanks to a Christian Watford three-pointer at the buzzer.
Who would have guessed that the Round of 32 matchup would be Lehigh vs. Xavier? If you had this matchup in your bracket then you have to be one in a million.