Oddsshark presents WINNERS
**Ok so guys, before we start, let’s have a little #RealTalk here for a second. We love gambling. We love the thrill of it. We love the wins. We love everything about it. This is a huge time of year for us. But for a lot of people out there, they aren’t familiar with gambling. They see our excitement and want to get in on it, but don’t want to feel like an idiot asking where and how this stuff goes down. That again, is where our friends at Oddsshark come through. Here is a wildly thorough guide on where and how to bet NCAA Basketball this month. Even if you’re an experienced bettor, it’s worth a look to make sure you have all the information necessary to be insanely successful.**
What a week, brothers! Conference championship weekend is a thrill a minute, we got games wall to wall, baby. Going from noon eastern through midnight, we’re on every conference, watching teams we’ve never seen before, and all the while betting on them and trying to line our pockets. We’ve got buzzer beaters, bid stealers, bracket busters, and Cinderellas getting fitted for their glass slipper. It’s one of the most exhilarating weeks on the entire sports calendar. The only thing that can make this week any better, is winning. We don’t hope to win, we don’t want to win, we need to win. We need it like we need oxygen. The wins tonight are what will carry us through the weekend and into the official start of the NCAA Tournament next week. We need the wins brothers, but we can’t do it alone. We need each other, every great team depends on one another. We also need our great friends at Oddsshark. They will provide us with all the information we need to get those W’s. They have odds at every major book, statistical breakdowns, trends, injury news, and a matchup page that is unrivaled anywhere on the internet. Having said that, let’s get down to business, baby.
WINNERS:
Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons (DET-7.5, Total 214.5)–Neither one of these teams is very good this year as both look to be safely out of the playoffs at this point. I wouldn’t touch either side in this game, but the total is definitely worth a look. These two teams are both averaging a hair over 103 points per game. They are both also allowing a shade over that number on the season. The problem has been, lately neither one is great at scoring the ball. In six of their last ten combined games, these two teams have failed to score more than 100 points. The offenses have been anemic, neither team has a playoff push in front of them, and the Bulls are openly tanking. I wouldn’t expect an up and down affair in this one. Further, one other angle I like, is with those offensive struggles, both teams did break out a bit in their last games on Wednesday, so a regression to the mean feels in order tonight. THE PICK: UNDER 214.5
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (IND -8.5, Total 210.5)–This is one of those games and situations you look at and don’t talk yourself out of. The Pacers have played excellent basketball, going 7-3 in their last ten, while Atlanta is the mirror image at 3-7. While, I don’t love that 8.5 number tonight, I do love the total. These two teams have combined for EIGHT under in their last ten games. Indiana’s largest output during that period was 103 points against the Bucks and the Hawks had an anomaly of 113 points, but that was at home against the dreadful Phoenix Suns. I’d look for the under trend to continue tonight, also worth noting is Darren Collison is questionable tonight and even if he is back, it will likely be with a minutes restriction. THE PICK: UNDER 210.5
Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks (MIN-165, Total 5.5)–This is one of those games that you just don’t overthink. Minnesota is a very good team headed for the playoffs, battling for seeding, with a lot to play for. Vancouver, has none of those things. Sure, the game is in Vancouver, but the Canucks are only 12-16 at home on the year. In these teams last ten starts they’ve covered the puckline six times. Devan Dubnyk is expected to be in net tonight for the Wild, and he is having an outstanding season, sporting a 2.60 GAA and a .918 save percentage. I’ll give the Canucks offense a modicum of credit with them having put up atleast three goals in four of their last five and lay off the puckline here. THE PICK: MINNESOTA WILD WIN IN REGULATION (EVEN).
UC-Irvine vs. UC-Santa Barbara (UCSB -2.5, Total 137.5)–Midnight Madness out west tonight brother! A midnight tip between the Gauchos of Santa Barbara and the Anteaters of Irvine. I actually, can’t wait for this game. I’ve cashed on both these teams this season and am looking forward to this game in a big way. This is a unique game for me, because I see two potential picks here and I’m going to make this kind of a choose your own adventure for you guys. The first play is the under. In the last ten times these two teams have played each other, guess how many times the total was under the number set here…TEN. Ten times it has been under 137.5. Factor in that this is a conference tournament game and we should get a close game between these two teams. They do set up quite nicely. UCSB has the better offense, but Irvine does play tighter defense and rebound better. I personally like this under as low as 135 tonight. You also though could talk me into the Gauchos straight up. UCSB has been the second best team in this conference all season long. Their offense is markedly better than Irvine’s and the Anteaters are awful on neutral courts, going 1-7 ATS in their last eight tries. So, if you’re tired of betting under tonight, I have absolutely no problem with you taking UCSB -2.5, but me personally, I’m taking this under while I can get it. THE PICK: UNDER 137.5.
Who Wants To Have Some Fun?
The guys at Oddsshark are doing a March Madness Picks Contest, where they pick games head to head in the tournament. Each contestant plays for $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. The winner also gets to decide the punishment of the loser, so that could be very entertaining as well. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! There is also a chance for YOU to win a $500 gift card good for tickets to any sporting event in North America. All you have to do is choose which pick you agree with by commenting on the corresponding post on Instagram. Each pick you comment on is an entry in the contest. You want to finally see a Super Bowl, a World Series, hell even the Grey Cup? This will go a good ways to getting you into those dream events. All information on the contest can be found HERE.
Didn’t plan on having all those unders tonight brothers, but the name of the game is putting money in your pocket, and if rooting for horrible offensive basketball is the way to do it, then by god, we will do just that. So let’s get after this weekend with the fire of a thousand suns and let’s get these damn wins wherever we can. I love you all.
P.S. There may or may not be another Bonus Parlay coming later tonight, these earlier start times mess with the timing of all the picks. We hit our Bonus Parlay last night and we might just go for two in a row. Check @BlackJackFletch on twitter for updates.