March Madness 2007

You've done your research, filled out your bracket and even put down some money on a couple of first round games. As a service to you, the bettor, we're providing regular updates to the NCAA champsionship basketball tournament. Good luck on your brackets.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

With the books in Vegas listing them as 9-point favorites, Niagara disappointed their backers by failing to cover the spread by a single point in their 77-69 victory over Florida A&M. The final score went over the total of 110.

On the strength of Tuesday's victory, the Purple Eagles will be seeded 16 in the West Regional and will face the No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks on Friday in Chicago.

Kansas is listed as a 19-point favorite and the total is set at 149½.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Midwest Region

Despite having the best ATS mark of all the Div I teams in all of the NCAA, Davidson failed to cover the seven-point spread against the Maryland Terrapins losing 82-70. G Stephen Curry dropped 30-points in a losing effort. The total of 154 just went under.

Vegas was expecting a close one in the Old Dominion-Butler matchup as the line opened with the Bulldogs listed as 1½-point favorites. No such luck. The Bulldogs ended up taking down the Monarchs by a count of 57-46. The game went under the 124 point total.

East Region

Boston College bettors rejoiced after their Eagles beat Texas Tech by a count of of 84-75 more than covering the 3-point spread. Over bettors were even more happy as the actual total of 159 went over the set total of 136.

You could say that Washington St. gave Oral Roberts more than a tongue lashing. Okay bad joke, but the Cougars really did beat the Golden Eagles by a score of 70-54. The 16-point margin of victory and the combined score of 124 ensured that bettors who bet the spread (WSU -6½) and the under (total 125) walked away happy.

There were no surprises when Georgetown took on Belmont. The Hoyas covered the 16½-point spread and the total went over on the strength of the 80-55 final score.

Vanderbilt beat George Washington by a score of 77-44. The Commodores covered and the game went under.

When you don't score your first basket 'til 10 minutes into the first, like Marquette did, you normally don't cover or win. Michigan State's defense did the deed and they won 61-49, giving more than enough of a cushion for Spartan bettors. The final score went under the 126-point total.

North Carolina (-28) did manage to beat up on Eastern Kentucky 86-65, but that wasn't not enough to be of benefit to bettors who played the Tar Heels. The total went over.

South Region

Vegas books had Louisville favored by 5½ but the Cards figured they'd beat the Stanford Cardinal by 20 points for good measure. The combined score of 78-58 went over the total of 125½ set by oddsmakers.

Texas A&M took down Penn by a score of 68-52, covering the 13-point spread and going under the 137 point total.

Ohio State and C Greg Oden hammered Central Connecticut St. by a score of 78-57. Vegas had the Buckeyes heavily favored by 20-points and they only covered by the hairs on their chinny chin chins. The game went over by 5.

Even though Xavier (-2) pulled a mild 79-77 upset of BYU, Musketeer backers still came away empty handed as the game was a push. Over bettors did cash in though.

March 13-15, 16, 17, 18, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, NCAA championship