The Duke Blue Devils to win it all can be found as high as +600, but just sticking with the 100% safe books its +525 at The Greek.
This is a great bet even at +525. Look at this, the Devils have a pretty easy walk into the final four. In fact, their 15 point win Sunday came against the best team they will have to face to win their region.
Duke beat California 68-53 on Sunday. Next they will face a Purdue team who is missing its best player, Robbie Hummel. I think most are surprised that Purdue has even managed to make it this far, as many people have penned the Boilers to take a first round upset loss. Even though the Boilers have managed to win a couple games after Hummels injury, The Blue Devils will be way way too much for this injury plagued team to handle.
After the Devils beat Purdue on Friday ( easily covering the 8 I might add ), they will then likely face the winner of the Saint Marys vs. Baylor game. Whoever wins that game will provide little resistance to the Devils attempt to return Coack K to the final 4.
When the Blue Devils reach the final four, they will have two big advantages over the other three teams. First, the will have had by far the easiest treck to the final four. Second, Coach K. By far the most experienced and best tournament coach remaining in this years field. Mike K is in the tourney every year and reaches the sweet 16 and final four like clockwork. No Reason to believe this will be any different.
Even if all the favorites make it to the final four along with Duke ( highly unlikely ), I still think Duke has great value at +525. Even if Kentucky and Syracuse and Michigan State make it. First, I think Duke would throttle Michigan State if they were lucky enough to face the Spartans in the championship.
I also think Kentucky is too inexperienced and young, and it has shown several times this year losing to South Carolina, struggling before beating Miami ( Oh) by 2, struggling twice against Miss State. Now, for sure every team including Duke has games where it struggles. But give me Coach K in any big game.
As far as Syracuse goes, yeah Boehiem has been around longer, but has done nothing come tournament time. This guy lost the national championship to another coach K who couldnt shine Mike Krzyzewski's shoes when it comes to coaching. Look at the players like carmelo Anthony and that scrappy white guy cant remember the name that Boeheim has had over the years. Boeheim is the kind of coach who might have a good year but he will find a way to lose in the tournament. I expect Syracuse goes down before the final four, but if they get there it wont be any trouble for Duke.
Look at how good this team is. They finished 31-5. They won( reg season, not tourney ) one of the best conferences in college basketball. They have only 1 loss to a team that didnt make the Tourney. They had no bad losses all year long. Other than the loss at NC State, all their losses came against teams who finished at least 10 games over .500.
They have 3 players averaging 17 + points per game. I dont know if any other team remaining can say this. You dont just have to stop one guy. Jon Scheyer gets 18 PPG, Kyle Singler 18 PPG, Nolan Smith 17+ PPG. You stop one guy, another guy will beat you. Duke gave up 61 points per game playing in a conference in which every team had a winning non conference record, every team won at least 15 games, every team was within 1 game of .500 or better, the entire conference was 200 games over .500 in non conference games. Thats amazing.
There were no cupcakes in the ACC. Duke finished 31-5. Duke finished the season almost +17 ppg winners. They scored 78 average and gave up 61 average. The three top scorers on this team average almost what the team gives up. Coach K is by far the best coach in this tourney.
The Greek is paying + 525 on a team that WILL be in the final four, on the best coach remaining in the tourney, likely the best team remaining. +525 on the team that will be in Indianapolis and should be favored in both games.
Good luck.
This is a great bet even at +525. Look at this, the Devils have a pretty easy walk into the final four. In fact, their 15 point win Sunday came against the best team they will have to face to win their region.
Duke beat California 68-53 on Sunday. Next they will face a Purdue team who is missing its best player, Robbie Hummel. I think most are surprised that Purdue has even managed to make it this far, as many people have penned the Boilers to take a first round upset loss. Even though the Boilers have managed to win a couple games after Hummels injury, The Blue Devils will be way way too much for this injury plagued team to handle.
After the Devils beat Purdue on Friday ( easily covering the 8 I might add ), they will then likely face the winner of the Saint Marys vs. Baylor game. Whoever wins that game will provide little resistance to the Devils attempt to return Coack K to the final 4.
When the Blue Devils reach the final four, they will have two big advantages over the other three teams. First, the will have had by far the easiest treck to the final four. Second, Coach K. By far the most experienced and best tournament coach remaining in this years field. Mike K is in the tourney every year and reaches the sweet 16 and final four like clockwork. No Reason to believe this will be any different.
Even if all the favorites make it to the final four along with Duke ( highly unlikely ), I still think Duke has great value at +525. Even if Kentucky and Syracuse and Michigan State make it. First, I think Duke would throttle Michigan State if they were lucky enough to face the Spartans in the championship.
I also think Kentucky is too inexperienced and young, and it has shown several times this year losing to South Carolina, struggling before beating Miami ( Oh) by 2, struggling twice against Miss State. Now, for sure every team including Duke has games where it struggles. But give me Coach K in any big game.
As far as Syracuse goes, yeah Boehiem has been around longer, but has done nothing come tournament time. This guy lost the national championship to another coach K who couldnt shine Mike Krzyzewski's shoes when it comes to coaching. Look at the players like carmelo Anthony and that scrappy white guy cant remember the name that Boeheim has had over the years. Boeheim is the kind of coach who might have a good year but he will find a way to lose in the tournament. I expect Syracuse goes down before the final four, but if they get there it wont be any trouble for Duke.
Look at how good this team is. They finished 31-5. They won( reg season, not tourney ) one of the best conferences in college basketball. They have only 1 loss to a team that didnt make the Tourney. They had no bad losses all year long. Other than the loss at NC State, all their losses came against teams who finished at least 10 games over .500.
They have 3 players averaging 17 + points per game. I dont know if any other team remaining can say this. You dont just have to stop one guy. Jon Scheyer gets 18 PPG, Kyle Singler 18 PPG, Nolan Smith 17+ PPG. You stop one guy, another guy will beat you. Duke gave up 61 points per game playing in a conference in which every team had a winning non conference record, every team won at least 15 games, every team was within 1 game of .500 or better, the entire conference was 200 games over .500 in non conference games. Thats amazing.
There were no cupcakes in the ACC. Duke finished 31-5. Duke finished the season almost +17 ppg winners. They scored 78 average and gave up 61 average. The three top scorers on this team average almost what the team gives up. Coach K is by far the best coach in this tourney.
The Greek is paying + 525 on a team that WILL be in the final four, on the best coach remaining in the tourney, likely the best team remaining. +525 on the team that will be in Indianapolis and should be favored in both games.
Good luck.