Duke heading for a coveted No. 1 seed
Last week's top-3 teams in both polls – Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue – each went down in defeat over the weekend. The Boilermakers' loss at home came after Matt Painter's squad lost one of its stars, Robbie Hummel, to a season-ending knee injury, and his absence showed with Purdue scoring only 44 points. All of this opens the door for Mike Krzyewski's Duke Blue Devils to grab a No. 1 seed in March.
There are two ways you can go with determining your picks for the upcoming ncaa tournament, which is amazingly only three weeks away.
I could use this space to argue which teams I think should be the No. 1 seeds for March Madness, but that would say nothing about which schools will actually get the designation from the selection committee. As bettors know, the two don’t always go hand-in-hand.
This year appears to be no exception, especially with Kansas, Kentucky, and Purdue all suffering losses over the weekend.
Despite the trio of defeats, the Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Boilermakers all deserve No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance. Thing is, there’s no way Purdue is getting the nod after falling to Michigan State on Sunday, losing Robbie Hummel to a torn ACL last week, and by not playing out of Cameron Indoor Stadium, as charming as is Mackey Arena.
Let’s be clear: Duke is getting a No. 1 seed in this year’s Tourney.
By merit, I’d go with Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Purdue at this point, but it’s clear the Boilermakers won’t hold down their spot.
Because of the three losses by the big three last weekend, and the confusion that comes along with teams like Purdue, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Villanova, expect the committee to take the easy way out by selecting the Blue Devils along with the Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Orange.
Duke is a public team (and to some, enemy) No. 1, but it’s not entirely undeserving of a top seed. That’s one of the main reasons the Devils will get the nod, too. If the committee can plausibly anoint Duke, it will. It’ll be a no-brainer once the Devils run the table and win the ACC Tournament in two weeks.
Coach K’s bunch looks great on paper, and are a profitable wager for a public program at 24-4 SU and 16-9-2 ATS. Bettors should tread lightly on Duke in the Tourney, however, when everyone and their brother will be laying down on it. The Devils are only 2-5-1 ATS away from Durham this season.
Not sold on Duke getting a No. 1? I don’t blame you, but you can’t deny how they’ll look to committee members when they sift through the Devils’ file. Duke came out of the weekend first in the Pomeroy rankings, second in RPI, and sixth in Strength of Schedule.
Now that you’ve digested my case for the Blue Devils, you’ll probably have an easier time with my three other picks: The Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Orange.
Kansas is a lock for a No. 1 seed despite its 85-77 loss at Oklahoma State (+6) on Saturday, although it could get dicey if it loses at home to Kansas State on Wednesday night. If they get by the Wildcats as expected, the Jayhawks should have no trouble grabbing a No. 1.
First in RPI, second in Pomeroy, and 18th in SOS, Kansas should be avoided at the window in the Dance. The Jayhawks are a great team, and therein lies the problem. With its loss to the Cowboys on Saturday, Kansas is only 1-8 ATS (8-1 SU) in its last nine games and 3-6-1 ATS on the road this season.
Kentucky might be the most talented team in the land, but will that be enough for it to make a deep run in the Tourney? Like the Jayhawks, the Wildcats suffered a disappointing loss on Saturday, even if it was a tough 74-65 defeat at a ranked Tennessee (+2½) team.
One thing about Kentucky: It’s a better bet than Kansas. The Wildcats are 6-3 against the number (8-1 SU) in their last nine games.
Syracuse has been slowly building a resume worthy of a No. 1 seed in the Madness all season and could hold the top spot in the national polls by the time you’re reading this. There’s a lot that can happen in the ultra-competitive Big East, but right now, the Orange have arguably the strongest case for a No. 1 seed.
From a betting perspective, here’s to hoping ‘Cuse’s ascension doesn’t up its price too much. The Orange have covered in three in a row since their surprising 66-60 loss to Louisville (+7½) on February 14 and are 18-7 ATS (27-2 SU) this season.
Last week's top-3 teams in both polls – Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue – each went down in defeat over the weekend. The Boilermakers' loss at home came after Matt Painter's squad lost one of its stars, Robbie Hummel, to a season-ending knee injury, and his absence showed with Purdue scoring only 44 points. All of this opens the door for Mike Krzyewski's Duke Blue Devils to grab a No. 1 seed in March.
There are two ways you can go with determining your picks for the upcoming ncaa tournament, which is amazingly only three weeks away.
I could use this space to argue which teams I think should be the No. 1 seeds for March Madness, but that would say nothing about which schools will actually get the designation from the selection committee. As bettors know, the two don’t always go hand-in-hand.
This year appears to be no exception, especially with Kansas, Kentucky, and Purdue all suffering losses over the weekend.
Despite the trio of defeats, the Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Boilermakers all deserve No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance. Thing is, there’s no way Purdue is getting the nod after falling to Michigan State on Sunday, losing Robbie Hummel to a torn ACL last week, and by not playing out of Cameron Indoor Stadium, as charming as is Mackey Arena.
Let’s be clear: Duke is getting a No. 1 seed in this year’s Tourney.
By merit, I’d go with Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Purdue at this point, but it’s clear the Boilermakers won’t hold down their spot.
Because of the three losses by the big three last weekend, and the confusion that comes along with teams like Purdue, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Villanova, expect the committee to take the easy way out by selecting the Blue Devils along with the Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Orange.
Duke is a public team (and to some, enemy) No. 1, but it’s not entirely undeserving of a top seed. That’s one of the main reasons the Devils will get the nod, too. If the committee can plausibly anoint Duke, it will. It’ll be a no-brainer once the Devils run the table and win the ACC Tournament in two weeks.
Coach K’s bunch looks great on paper, and are a profitable wager for a public program at 24-4 SU and 16-9-2 ATS. Bettors should tread lightly on Duke in the Tourney, however, when everyone and their brother will be laying down on it. The Devils are only 2-5-1 ATS away from Durham this season.
Not sold on Duke getting a No. 1? I don’t blame you, but you can’t deny how they’ll look to committee members when they sift through the Devils’ file. Duke came out of the weekend first in the Pomeroy rankings, second in RPI, and sixth in Strength of Schedule.
Now that you’ve digested my case for the Blue Devils, you’ll probably have an easier time with my three other picks: The Jayhawks, Wildcats, and Orange.
Kansas is a lock for a No. 1 seed despite its 85-77 loss at Oklahoma State (+6) on Saturday, although it could get dicey if it loses at home to Kansas State on Wednesday night. If they get by the Wildcats as expected, the Jayhawks should have no trouble grabbing a No. 1.
First in RPI, second in Pomeroy, and 18th in SOS, Kansas should be avoided at the window in the Dance. The Jayhawks are a great team, and therein lies the problem. With its loss to the Cowboys on Saturday, Kansas is only 1-8 ATS (8-1 SU) in its last nine games and 3-6-1 ATS on the road this season.
Kentucky might be the most talented team in the land, but will that be enough for it to make a deep run in the Tourney? Like the Jayhawks, the Wildcats suffered a disappointing loss on Saturday, even if it was a tough 74-65 defeat at a ranked Tennessee (+2½) team.
One thing about Kentucky: It’s a better bet than Kansas. The Wildcats are 6-3 against the number (8-1 SU) in their last nine games.
Syracuse has been slowly building a resume worthy of a No. 1 seed in the Madness all season and could hold the top spot in the national polls by the time you’re reading this. There’s a lot that can happen in the ultra-competitive Big East, but right now, the Orange have arguably the strongest case for a No. 1 seed.
From a betting perspective, here’s to hoping ‘Cuse’s ascension doesn’t up its price too much. The Orange have covered in three in a row since their surprising 66-60 loss to Louisville (+7½) on February 14 and are 18-7 ATS (27-2 SU) this season.
