Las Vegas Expert Picks: Final Four, NBA, NHL

Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of expertise to produce weekly selections in his”Ecks & Bacon” column.
Final Four picks
LAS VEGAS — Can’t recall which one of those 279 sites where I read this, but this is actually the first time in 31 years that among those so-called Blue Bloods will not be at the Final Four. We are talking North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and Louisville. That’s THIRTY-ONE YEARS! WOW!
Now for the winner of this first game on Saturday between Virginia and Auburn. Talking of Blue Bloods, Charles Barkley’s Tigers conquer Kansas, North Carolina and Kentuckyback to back, to make it to their first EVER Final Four. This was VERY impressive. And the last W against Kentucky was WITHOUT one of the greatest players, Chuma Okeke. Auburn rumbles to the celebration on a 12-0 straight-up PERFECTO and has covered eight of the last 10.
Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers come in with an impressive resume as well, winning 13 of the previous 14, but contrary to the spread, the’Hoos have managed to cover just three of their previous seven. Not necessarily calling for the upset, but might purchase the hook, push the lineup to +6, and observe Sir Charles cry on national TV. Crying since, as all of us know, Barkley is a ferocious sports bettor, and he’ll be all over Auburn and also the points.
In the nightcap, we are gonna roll with Texas Tech +2.5 points over Michigan State. Of course, we’ll buy the hook and drive Tech to +3. What else can the Red Raiders do? They rolled to the Sweet 16 from the second-best defensive group in college hoops, Michigan, also blew the Wolverines away 63-44. Then they looked in the daunting task of confronting the NUMBER ONE crime in the Nation in the Elite Eight, Gonzaga. You believe the Raiders were nervous? Nah. They held the’Zags to ONLY 69 points, nearly TWENTY points under their season average of 87.6.
What any other matchups with the Big Ten? Gotcha. Aside from the Michigan game, Tech stomped on Nebraska 70-52. More? OK. TT has won 13 of the last 14 straight up, covered seven of the previous eight, and steps onto the court in Minneapolis working within an 8-0 spread PERFECTO on the street. It ain’t gonna be easy, but we’re backing the beard, Chris Beard!!!
NBA select For your wagering pleasure, here are your disperse stats of the day. The Nuggets may not grab the Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference, but you realize they are gonna deliver some heat to the ESPN matchup from the Blazers. Denver has been around a sweet roll, winning nine of the past 13 straight up, but against the spread, the Nugs have covered only four of the last 12.
They have been stingy with points allowed and also have gone UNDER at 10 of the previous 12 games. Portland brings an identical portfolio into the table, winning eight of the last nine straight up, but have done WAY better against the spread, covering four of the previous five. Taking a look at the big picture, the Nuggets’ overall spread log sits at 40-38, 24-15 in the home and 29-26 as a favorite. The Blazers’ overall spread markers is 44-33-1, 21-18 on the street and 13-15 as an underdog. Light tickle to Portland.
NHL pick Additionally skating onto the NHL ice, and obtained a drama on the Rangers into the Blue Jackets.
PLZ hit me on Twitter over the weekend, @vegasvigorish, just in case anything pops.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other newspapers since 1988. It is possible to follow him online at www.americasline.com. He’s loved by many, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. Should you wanna bit of Eck, hit on his email…ben@americasline.com.

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