Odds to win the Triple Crown

Will any horse win the 2006 Triple Crown?

Odds to win The 2006 Kentucky Derby

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW GEORGE WASHINGTON COLONIALS

arly in February, the Colonials had reached No. 10 in the AP Top 25, their highest ranking since 1956. Their record through 18 games was 17-1 straight up with an unbeaten 7-0 record in Atlantic-10 play. However, the Colonials had a favorable non-conference schedule, having faced only two lower-ranked opponents: No. 23 Maryland and No. 19 N.C. State. The Colonials upset the Terps at home 78-70 as 2.5-point underdogs, but were trounced 79-58 by the Wolfpack as 6.5-point road dogs. In a key conference game at Xavier that was nationally televised, GW also struggled to a win 89-85. It was their first win at Xavier in almost 10 years. While the Colonials showed some cracks in that game, they also displayed depth. As the Musketeers began to tire midway through the second half, GW had the bench strength to capitalize and go on a 15-1 run. As of Feb. 5, the Colonials had the top scoring offense in the A-10, averaging 81.7 ppg. GW has five players averaging more than 10 points per game. The leading scorer on the team is junior guard Danilo 'J.R.' Pinnock, who's averaging 14.9 ppg, 13th overall in the A-10. The Colonials' propensity to cause turnovers and create fast offensive drives is evident in the number of steals they record. Through January, GW averaged 10.1 steals per game, tenth most in the nation. Of the conference's top 5 players in terms of steals per game, three were Colonials. Pinnock leads the team averaging 2.3 steals per game. Another big part of the Colonials' scoring prowess has been the team's offensive rebounding which is ranked second overall in conference (37.8 per game). The top offensive rebounders on the team are two senior forwards, Mike Hall (3.0 per game) and Nana (Pops) Mensah-Bonsu (2.73 rpg). Both are also the top two defensive rebounders. GW, however, has been noticeably weaker on defense. Thus, teams who can successfully shut down GW's offense give themselves a good chance of knocking off the Colonials, as the Wolfpack did in late December. The combination of a higher scoring offense and a weaker defense is reflected in the team's record on the total. Through 10 listed games, the Colonials had seen seven games go OVER the posted total. GW has also been kind to backers sending them to the pay window in seven out of 11 listed games. 

TOP 2006 MARCH MADNESS TEAMS

Enter each team to see the 2006 March Madness Team Preview

- Boston College Eagles
- Connecticut Huskies
- Duke Blue Devils
- Florida Gators
- Georgetown Hoyas
- George Washington Colonials
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Memphis Tigers
- Michigan State Spartans
- NC State Wolfpack
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Texas Longhorns
- UCLA Bruins
- Villanova Wildcats
- Washington Huskies
- West Virginia Mountaineers

ESPN Super Bowl Review

I have included here this Super Bowl Review by Michael Smith from ESPN.com, because this proves my point about the errors made by officials mentioned in my Super Bowl Review. Hope you enjoy it.

DETROIT -- Three weeks ago, after the Steelers held on to upset Indianapolis, Joey Porter was unhappy about the overturning of Troy Polamalu's fourth-quarter interception that could have sealed the win much earlier. Believing that deep down the league preferred Peyton Manning and the Colts to win, Porter publicly criticized the game officials, asking them not to "take the game from us."

Well, the Steelers can call it even now, as the officials who performed well enough throughout the season to earn the privilege of working Super Bowl XL performed Sunday as though they were trying to make it up to the Steelers by giving them the game -- not just any game, but the biggest game. And, yes, this time the other guys, the Seahawks, cried conspiracy, only not quite as loudly as Porter.

"You know, that's what happens when the world is against you," one Seahawk said after the 21-10 loss at Ford/Heinz Field. "No one wanted us to win. They wanted Jerome Bettis to win and go out a hero, and they got it."

Seattle had its share of goats: in particular, tight end Jerramy Stevens, who dropped four balls, and kicker Josh Brown, who missed two field-goal attempts. Almost to a man, the Seahawks pointed the blame finger at themselves for converting only one of three red zone attempts (when they had been the best in the league in that area, scoring a touchdown on 71.7 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line); for allowing Ben Roethlisberger to improvise and complete a 37-yard pass to game MVP Hines Ward to the 1; for giving up a 75-yard touchdown run to Willie Parker; and for getting beaten by a trick play on Antwaan Randle El's pass to fellow receiver Ward for a touchdown, a first in Super Bowl history. If you read between the lines, though, they pretty much spelled out in bold letters that they had plenty of help in handing Pittsburgh its fifth Lombardi Trophy.

Namely, the boys in black and white.

"Those things are out of our control," Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said of the three major penalties that helped change the game completely. Not saying the outcome of the game would have been any different, but for sure it would have been a different game. "That's the way [the officials] called them," Hasselbeck continued. "The Steelers played well enough to win tonight, and we didn't. They should get credit. It's disappointing, it's hard, but what are you going to do?"

Here's what referee Bill Leavy's crew did, point blank: It robbed Seattle. The Seahawks could have played better, sure. They could have done more to overcome the poor officiating. We understand that those things happen and all, but even with all the points Seattle left on the field, there's a good chance the Seahawks would have scored more than the Steelers if the officials had let the players play.

In the biggest game of the year, the biggest game in sports, even, the officials were just a little too visible. In that regard, the Super Bowl provided a fitting conclusion to a postseason packed with pitiful performances by the game's third team. There were incorrect down-by-contact rulings in both NFC wild-card games; a touchdown that could have gone either way and should have gone the other way -- in favor of Tampa Bay -- in the Bucs' loss to the Redskins; the Patriots got no love in Denver in being hit with a bogus pass interference penalty and not catching a break on Champ Bailey's fumble at the goal line that looked as though it could have been a touchback; and, of course, the Polamalu play.

Still, what happened to the Seahawks wasn't the same as, say, New England going into Denver and playing badly (five turnovers) on top of the bad calls. Seattle gained almost 400 yards and turned it over just once.

You see, you can spend weeks -- and we did; two, in fact -- analyzing and dissecting matchups and giving each team the edge in certain areas and trying to figure out how the game is going to play out, but the two things you can't account for are turnovers and officials. The latter were the X-factor Sunday. Edge: Steelers.

It actually was a fairly clean game from a penalty standpoint, without a whole lot of yellow on the field -- 10 accepted penalties between the teams. Seven were against the Seahawks, though, a team that tied with Indianapolis for the second-fewest penalties (94) in the regular season. But those calls against the Seahawks stuck out like the Space Needle on the Seattle skyline.

Consider: The Seahawks lost 161 yards to penalties when you combine the penalty yards (70) and the plays the flags wiped out (91). By halftime alone, when it trailed 7-3, Seattle had had 73 hard-earned yards and a touchdown eliminated.

Hasselbeck hit Darrell Jackson with an apparent 16-yard scoring pass in the first quarter, but the play came back when Jackson was called for offensive pass interference. It was a touch foul. Jackson extended his arm, yes, but both players were fighting for position, and he didn't create any separation by doing so. It was like a referee calling a hand-check in a key moment of Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

The Seahawks had to settle for three instead of seven.

Still, that was early, and that one didn't change the game as much as did a holding call against Sean Locklear early in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh leading 14-10. That one wiped out an 18-yard catch by Stevens that would have taken the ball to the 1. Locklear supposedly held Clark Haggans, so instead of first-and-goal at the 1 and the chance to complete a 98-yard touchdown drive and take a three-point lead, Seattle faced first-and-20 at the 29.

Three plays later, Ike Taylor picked off a Hasselbeck pass, and Hasselbeck went low to make the tackle on Taylor's return and was called for a 15-yard personal foul for a low block. The Steelers set up shop at their 44. That one right there made no sense.

Pittsburgh likes to run its trick plays in the middle of the field. Boom! Four plays later, from Seattle's 43, Randle El took a reverse and threw a sweet strike on the run to Ward. It was 21-10, and that was all she wrote. Everyone knows how important it is to play Pittsburgh with a lead or with the score tied. The Steelers don't lose when they're up by 11.

Eleven just so happens to be the total points taken away by bogus calls. Some penalties meant points; others meant field position. A holding call in the second quarter negated Peter Warrick's 34-yard punt return that would have started Seattle in Pittsburgh territory.

By contrast, the Steelers might have gotten a break on Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown plunge on third-and-goal in the second quarter. Leavy reviewed the play under the booth's orders, since it occurred inside the two-minute mark, and while still photos of an airborne Roethlisberger showed that the ball might have broken the plane of the goal line, he landed short of it and reached the ball over. It was close. Head linesman Mark Hittner didn't seem so sure of it, hesitating before signaling touchdown.

"I don't think he scored," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.

It was that kind of evening for the Seahawks, who represent a town where residents know all too well that when it rains, it pours. If having what seemed like 90 percent of the 68,200 in attendance waving Terrible Towels wasn't enough to make Seattle feel as though it was playing on the road, the officials called it as though the Seahawks actually were.

Pittsburgh capitalized on its opportunities. And guys like Bill Cowher, Ward, Dan Rooney and The Bus are all very deserving of a championship -- and it's nice to see them win one -- but it would have been better had it not happened like this. It's like the Seahawks said: Not taking anything away from the Steelers, but keep it real.

"We had a touchdown taken away from us, the first one we scored," said Hasselbeck, who was measured in his words but clear in his frustration, "and then we had the ball at the 1-yard line, they called a penalty on us. That was unfortunate."

"I thought they were offside [on the play Locklear was called for holding]," center Robbie Tobeck said. "I thought we had a free play on because they had two guys come across. You know, that's the game. In a game, there's situations you have to overcome, and all night long we didn't do a good job of overcoming those things, and that's something we've done all year."

In the offseason, 31 teams will be back at the drawing board, evaluating what they need to do to knock off the Steelers in the fall. After the postseason they just had, Mike Pereira and the NFL's crew of officials would be wise to take a long, hard look at themselves. It's a real shame when, on the game's biggest stage, the major players aren't players at all. We saw too much of the third team in Super Bowl XL and not enough Seahawks and Steelers.

Time for March Madness

Super Bowl is over. Now it is time for March Madness. Here are the latest polls:

Sportsline says:
1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Villanova
4. Memphis
5. Texas

AP Says:
1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Memphis
4. Villanova
5. Gonzaga

Coaches Poll says:
1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Memphis
4. Villanova
5. Gonzaga

It is also time for March Madness brackets contests, and to start thinking on winning thousands of dollars in the promos that Sportsbooks give away. Start getting your stats and projections. Who will win the NCAA Basketball Championship? Who will conform the Final Four? Sweet Sixteen? Start looking and prepare yourself. If you belive in past performances, you can look at previous years NCAA Basketball Champions.

The March Madness Schedule is as follows:

On March 12, the basketball committee will select two teams to play the opening-round game March 14 in Dayton. The winning team will be a 16th seed in the first round.

*First- and second-round and regional sites will be placed in the bracket by the
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee March 12.

March 16 and 18 first-/second-round sites: Greensboro, Jacksonville, Salt Lake City, San Diego
March 17 and 19 first-/second-round sites: Auburn Hills, Dallas, Dayton, Philadelphia
March 23 and 25 regional sites: Atlanta, Oakland (Sweet Sixteen)
March 24 and 26 regional sites: Minneapolis, Washington D.C. (Elite Eight)
April 1st will be the National Semifinals (Final Four)
April 3rd will have the NCAA CHampionship game

I will be posting March Madness Odds, March Madness Betting Trends, and March Madness brackets options in the days to come.

NCAA Basketball Championships - March Madness

Here is the list of past NCAA Basketball Champions for March Madness

MARCH MADNESS BETTING TRENDS

Few events can match Selection Sunday for preevent hype.

The controversy. The anticipation. Who's in the dance and who settles for the NIT?

Which schools feel slighted with their ranking, and of course, who wins the nods as No. 1 seeds? With the brackets set, the mighty top seeds roar into March Madness full of confidence, riding long win streaks and smug with nationwide accolades trumpeting their greatness.

But a funny thing happens for bettors who think they can laugh all the way to the bank with these teams - they don't cover spreads in the early going. There has never been a No. 16 to knock off a No. 1, but the small schools are 9-5-1 ATS in the past four tournaments. Sportsbooks use this info you know right?

Feisty No. 15s have lost 15 of 16 (Hampton took out No. 2 Iowa State back in 2001), but are 13- 7 against the number and were a perfect 4-0 last year. There has only been one No. 14 to win outright in the five years as well, with Bucknell knocking off Kansas last year.

And if history holds, don't expect No. 11s to make bracket breakthroughs for you. They are just 1-13 SU against No. 6 schools in the first round. Here's a look at some recent team and seed vs seed trends as you plan your bracket strategy for 2006.

DUKE
Not that you can expect Duke to be an underdog very often given their terrific season, but of the eight times they have been a dog in the past 20 years, they are 6-2 ATS. But they have been no lock lately as a favorite either, covering the number just once in their past five tourney games. And the lone cover was the infamous
heave at the buzzer against UConn which took money out of Husky backers' hands at 79-78 in the title game.

LOW FIVES
No. 5s have been victimized regularly by 12-seeds in the past five years. The supposedly overmatched No. 12s have won 9 of 11 games outright. The No. 5s rebounded for a 3-1 mark in first-round action last season though, with only Wisconsin-Milwaukee pulling the upset on Alabama.

4s ON THE FLOOR
The luck has been better for No. 4 seeds outright, but against the spread, they have been crippled by lowly No. 14s. Since 2001, No. 13 seeds have won five games outright and gone 12-8 ATS against No. 4s.

And if you wondered how supposedly even No.8 vs. No. 9 battles have gone, the bracket-makers have nailed this one on the head. The series is split 10-10 SU and ATS!

CAN'T BEAT A No. 1?
UConn has a national title to its credit, but has not done well in games against top seeds. In fact, since 1992, the Huskies have played a No. 1 seed seven times and won just twice. Both times, Duke was the victim (1999 and 2004). But UConn had an amazing run of 19 consecutive games of winning outright when they were the high-ranked school. N.C. State wrecked that run last year when they upset the Huskies as a No.10 seed.

FLORIDA IN THE FIRST
The Gators have been perennial first-round chokers against the number, going just 3-8 ATS dating back to 1988. They have also endured some high-profile routs at the hands of underdogs in the first round.

BIG SPREADS, NO COVERS
You often see some early-round whoppers for spreads - Duke by 33.5 or UConn by 35. But in 2005, the dogs covered every time the spread was greater than 16.5. The mark was 0-6-1 for the heavy chalk. Big dogs didn't pack nearly as much bite in 2003 or 2004. The theory is that superior coaching combined with the fact that big favorites know they need to conserve energy and rest starters for the long road to the title may be at play.

It is March Madness, so arm yourself with as much data as possible and fire away at the 2006 bracket!

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW MEMPHIS TIGERS

Memphis supporters probably wish last year never happened. What looked like a top-level club disintegrated with the controversies surrounding Sean Banks and Jeremy Hunt. Those distractions are gone now, and the Tigers have made C-USA their own personal playground, going 7-0 against their outmatched opposition. It all begins with senior forward Rodney Carney. With Hunt no longer in the picture, the Indianapolis native has improved on last year's performance, scoring 18 points per game in just 25.9 minutes and hitting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Coach John Calipari has been so impressed, he's touting Carney for National Player of the Year honors. His chances are slim, given the team's low profile and the eight-man rotation Calipari uses. However, Carney will gladly settle for a trip to the NCAA Tournament after the Tigers had to settle for the NIT last year. Darius Washington Jr. would certainly love to forget the NIT. The point guard missed two free throws at the end of the game to allow the Louisville Cardinals to advance to the finals. But the C-USA's Freshman of the Year has put that behind him. Washington is second on the Tigers with 13.8 points per game, good enough to be named one of 16 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award. The big freshman on campus this time around is Memphis native Shawne Williams. The bluechip forward nearly went straight to the NBA, but instead is giving the Tigers 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game along with a healthy assortment of blocks and steals. His numbers have dipped in C-USA play with opponents often double-teaming the rookie, but that's just allowed Williams to dish the ball to the open man. As potent as the Memphis offense has been, there is one chink in the armor that has to be addressed for Final Four contention. Other than Carney, nobody has been a consistent threat from downtown. Memphis is ranked 149th in the nation with a 3-point accuracy of just 35.1 percent. That makes the Tigers vulnerable to zone defenses, as Rice proved in nearly coming back from a 15-point deficit on Feb. 4 before finally losing 84-79. Memphis dropped the cash for the sixth time in eight games. Fortunately for Tigers supporters, Calipari has the luxury of a near-cakewalk through the rest of the C-USA schedule to fine-tune the offense.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

The Spartans were among the top 5 in many preseason rankings including the AP Top 25 (No. 4) and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll (No. 5). Part of the justification for their favorable ranking was the fact they had four proven starters returning to a team that had reached last year's Final Four, where they lost to eventual champion UNC. MSU was invited to play in the Maui Invitational to start their season. But before hitting the island, the Spartans played Hawaii. The sluggish Spartans were spanked by the Rainbow Warriors 84-62 as 6.5-point favorites. The loss ended the Spartans' streak of season-opening wins at 28. MSU went on to Maui and lost their second game of the tournament to No. 8 Gonzaga 109-106 in a triple overtime thriller, as 1.5-point favorites. The loss seemed to snap the Spartans out of their sunny slumber as they went on to win their next 11 games. Heading into conference play, MSU had climbed to No. 7 rankings. But the first Big Ten opponent they faced was No. 6 Illinois, the runner up in last year's NCAA tournament. They were bounced 60-50 by the Illini as 7-point road dogs. The Spartans went on to log notable wins against Indiana, Ohio St. and Iowa, but also fell to unranked Wisconsin and Michigan. Although those losses suggest that coach Izzo still has some problems, it also underscores how competitive the Big Ten is this year. As of Feb. 5, there were six Big Ten teams ranked in the AP Top 25, more teams than any other conference. Leading the way for the Spartans this season has been senior guard Maurice Ager, who tops the team in scoring and is second overall in the Big Ten averaging 19.6 ppg. Following Ager is junior guard Shannon Brown at 18.3 ppg and highly regarded center Paul Davis at 18 ppg. Davis leads the team in rebounds averaging 9.7 per game (second overall in the conference). Outside of Davis, the Spartans have struggled rebounding this season and part of the problem has been size - Davis is the only starter over 6-foot-6. Of their first seven Big Ten games the Spartans were out-rebounded in five. As of Feb. 5, the Spartans had the second best scoring offense in the Big Ten averaging 78.1 ppg, but the second worst scoring defense in the 11-team conference, allowing an average of 69.9 ppg.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW NC STATE WOLFPACK

The Julius Hodge era is over at N.C. State. But, despite losing Hodge, N.C. State still boasts a very experienced team packed with veterans that have Sendek's motion offense and pinpoint defense already drilled into their heads. The Wolfpack can be a maddening team to play against because of their quick ball movement, efficient shooting and superb field-goal defense. This year's team may not have a superstar who will come though with 25 points every night, but they make up for it with a number of players who can hit their shots when it counts. With four players averaging in double-figures and two more knocking on the door, the Wolfpack features a balanced offense that can be hard to defend because there isn't a J.J. Redick or an Adam Morrison to key on as the principal shotlauncher. The Wolfpack trots out four players who are all reliable perimeter shooters in Cameron Bennerman, Tony Bethel, Ilian Evtimov and Engin Atsur. Evtimov, Atsur and Bethel are all lethal from 3-point range, hitting more than 40 percent of their shots from behind the arc. And while the club's strength is clearly their myriad options outside, the Pack also has a strong complementary force with which to battle inside. Sophomore center Cedric Simmons has blossomed this season, giving the Wolfpack a dominant scorer in the post who also grabs a majority of the team's rebounds, while averaging three blocks a game. Behind Simmons, the Wolfpack has a deep bench of players that can also mix it up in the post. Forward Andrew Brackman surprised almost everyone with his play as a freshman, and he's avoided a sophomore slump. Two freshmen to watch include Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley. Costner has struggled through some injury problems this season, but when healthy the former McDonald's All-American can contribute scoring from the inside and grab his fair share of rebounds. McCauley hasn't garnered a lot of minutes this year, but the highly touted recruit makes the most of his minutes when he gets them. The Wolfpack surprised a lot of people by making it to the sweet 16 in last year's NCAA tourney. A lot of people doubted their chances of repeating that feat without Hodge this season, but the Wolfpack still has a talented nucleus that could surprise again with a couple of upset wins in the tournament.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
Pittsburgh was one of the last undefeated teams in the nation, reeling off 15 straight wins (at 6- 4 against the spread) before running into some problems on the road. The Panthers lost close ones at St. John's, Connecticut and Georgetown, covering against both the Huskies and Hoyas to improve to 9-6 ATS. Those losses should only serve to strengthen Pitt's resolve for the rest of the season. The Big East is arguably the toughest proving ground for this year's March Madness hopefuls. Five ranked teams sit atop the conference leaderboard, Pittsburgh, and there are a number of other tough teams in the hunt. These teams beat each other up all the time, so if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. The Panthers have made it thus far with big wins over the likes of Louisville, Syracuse and Marquette, plus non-con victories against Wisconsin and South Carolina. Leading the charge is the indomitable Carl Krauser. The senior point guard is one of the best two-way players the college game has ever produced. The Bronx native leads the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game, while hitting at a 40-percent clip from behind the arc and grabbing a pair of steals along the way. But the big surprise is the performance of big man Aaron Gray. He's not only stepped into Chris Taft's shoes, he's surpassed the current Golden State Warrior with 13.6 points and 10.9 boards per game. Gray's improvement has made it possible for coach Jamie Dixon to balance what was expected to be a backcourt-dominated squad. But make no mistake, this Pitt team lives and dies by Krauser and his supporting cast of guards, especially the versatile Ronald Ramon. He's blossomed into a 40-percent threat from outside in his sophomore campaign, and his defense reminds Dixon of former Pitt standout Julius Page. It would have been understandable if the Panthers had taken a step back in 2005-06, after getting bounced from the first round of last year's Tournament by Pacific, then watching Chevon Troutman graduate and Taft declare early for the NBA. Instead, Pitt has gotten solid performances off the bench from freshmen Sam Young and Levance Fields. They allow Dixon to go eight or nine men deep when he chooses, a critical factor in getting through the doldrums of February. Expect to see even more of Young and Fields as March Madness approaches.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Last season, coach Bruce Pearl led the Panthers to the Sweet 16 with wins over major conference powers Alabama and Boston College. The Panthers were 4.5- and 3.5-point underdogs in those two games respectively. Meanwhile, the Vols finished last season 14-17 SU (12-15 ATS) and were 6-10 SU versus conference foes. They lost 10 of their last 14 games. With Pearl at the helm, however, the Vols started off the season with six straight wins including a 95-78 victory over then-No. 6 Texas as 13-point road dogs. As a result of that win, the Volunteers broke into the AP top 25 in mid-December, debuting at No. 23. But the ranking turned out to be short-lived as they followed up their win over the Longhorns with a loss at Oklahoma St., 89-73 as 3-point dogs. They went on to win their next five including a 76-69 win at South Carolina as 4.5-point dogs. Although they lost the following two to up-andcoming LSU and No. 4 Memphis, the Vols made their biggest statement of the season on Jan. 21. Playing on home court, UT handed No. 2 Florida their first loss of the season beating them 80-76 as 1.5-point underdogs. Following that victory, the Vols checked in a No. 19 on the AP top 25. With four subsequent wins versus Mississippi St., South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi, UT climbed to No. 13. Through 19 games, UT was 16-3 overall and 7-1 against conference teams. Leading the way for the Vols has been the tandem of Chris Lofton and C.J. Watson. The two guards lead the team in scoring averaging more than 15 ppg. Lofton is UT's three-point man with a conference-leading 3.3 treys per game. Watson and fellow guard Dane Bradshaw lead the team in assists. In early February, the Vols boasted the top scoring offense in the SEC at 82.8 ppg, and ranked No. 2 overall in the nation. At the same time, they also had the worst scoring defense in the conference at 72.3 ppg. Not surprisingly, the Vols have seen plenty of high scoring games this season. Through their first 16 games, 11 had gone OVER the posted total (69 percent). As of Feb. 5, the Vols were 12-4 ATS on the season, and had won nine of their past 10 games ATS, including six straight.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW TEXAS LONGHORNS

The success of the football and baseball programs has rubbed off on the hardcourt. In eight years under coach Rick Barnes, the 'Horns have reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last seven seasons, going all the way to the Final Four in 2003. Texas is well on its way to another trip to the big dance. The 'Horns thumped Texas A&M on Feb. 4 to improve to 7-1 in the Big 12 and 19-3 overall. They have the luxury of dressing two players who were named midseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award: forwards P.J. Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge. They combine with point guard Daniel Gibson to form arguably the best trio in college basketball. All three garner attention from NBA scouts, none more so than Aldridge. The 6-foot-10 power forward has a skill set reminiscent of Chris Bosh: long and lean, soft hands, excellent shot-blocking, and probably a tweener at the pro level. Don't be surprised if Aldridge goes first overall in the draft should he declare. Gibson is on target for a lottery pick, but his stock is slipping after a pair of so-so performances against Missouri and Texas A&M. Aldridge was also subpar in those matchups, leaving Longhorn supporters to wonder about the heavy workload the top three Texans have absorbed thus far. Special attention must be paid to Aldridge as March Madness approaches. He missed the last 15 games of 2005 with torn cartilage in his left hip; the injury forced Aldridge to correct his mechanics, which has helped his game immensely, but his durability is in question. Barnes admits this version of the 'Horns isn't as deep as the one that made the Final Four three years ago. The onus will be on freshman guard A.J. Abrams and sophomore forward Mike Williams to provide a lift as the first two men off the bench. Abrams is particularly promising; the former high-school prodigy from Round Rock is already getting 20.8 minutes per game, clicking on nearly 40 percent of his trey attempts. Provided they don't tire down the stretch, the Longhorns have all the metrics of a title contender. Heading into the Lone Star Showdown versus the Aggies, Texas was ninth in the RPI rankings, first in defensive efficiency and fourth in rebounding margin. Will the numbers add up to a national championship? We'll see come March Madness.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW UCLA BRUINS

The Bruins have been bit hard by the injury bug this season. Starting guard Josh Shipp was the first major casualty. Shipp was limited to only four games, during which he averaged 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, before going down for the season with a hip injury. The versatile Cedric Bozeman has returned from sick bay, but it is his ability to play multiple positions that makes him a valuable piece of the puzzle the Bruins can ill afford to be without come March. Center Lorenzo Mata has also been cut down by injury. The sophomore provided size and strength off the bench and regularly cracked the starting lineup before he was lost for eight weeks with a knee injury. Mata is expected to be back in time for March, but whether or not he will be 100 percent remains to be seen. Despite these injuries to key players, UCLA has battled for top spot in the Pac-10. Leading the charge was the excellent backcourt duo of Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar. Afflalo leads the team in scoring and is a double-threat providing great perimeter defense. Farmar was last year's Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and he's living up to the title as a sophomore with excellent scoring ability and a marked improvement on defense. Farmar could still work on reducing his turnover rate, as he averages almost four per game. Beyond the backcourt duo, the Bruins have received steady production from a pair of freshmen. Forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute may be quite a mouthful, but it's a name worth remembering as he leads the Bruins in rebounds and has shown a scoring touch inside. Reserve guard Darren Collison has been solid off the bench and has even cracked the starting lineup on a couple of occasions. The Bruins may be a young team with only two seniors on the roster, but both of them have a tough time nailing down a starting role due to the talented youngsters surrounding them. The inexperienced roster could buckle under the pressure of March Madness, but after prevailing through a number of tough injuries this season the Bruins have shown they know how to deal with adversity. Last year the Bruins were bounced by Texas Tech in the first round of the tournament. Expect a much better turnout form a more focused and driven team this season.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW VILLANOVA WILDCATS

The Villanova Wildcats were the No. 5 seed in the Syracuse region of the NCAA tournament last season. Also in that region? The eventual champion (and top-seeded) North Carolina Tar Heels, who knocked out the Wildcats in the third round of the tournament. The game was close though - the Tar Heels only won by a single point. And as a result, the 2005/06 season of Villanova Wildcats basketball was one of the most anticipated in years, with expectations running high for head coach Jay Wright's squad. Three other factors had Wildcats fans optimistic coming into this season. First, they rolled off wins in 10 of their final 12 games last year, as the team really came together. Second, they knocked off No. 4 seed Florida in the second round of the tournament, a huge win for the school. And finally, the bulk of last year's solid Wildcats team came back for the 2005/05 season. That gives Villanova a veteran core with tourney experience, and with 10 wins in a row to start the season, the Wildcats solidified their spot in the top tier of the rankings. Seniors Randy Foye and Allan Ray continue to lead the way on offense for Villanova, with both guards averaging around 20 points-per-game and also chipping in with rebounds. In fact, the hard-working Wildcats squad doesn't have a dominant man on the boards. Foye was named to the Big East All Tournament Team last year, and was also a part of the NCAA Syracuse Region All Tournament Team. Ray was the Wildcats' scoring leader last season, and will battle with Foye for the team scoring title. Directing the offense is Mike Nardi, a junior point guard who's a threat from three-point range. Those three will need to all play at a high level, as two big games against powerhouse UConn loom on the schedule. And let's not forget about the Big East tournament, likely featuring more ranked teams than any other conference tournament. A bunch of losses in short order won't help the Wildcats' confidence, but finishing strongly against those tough opponents would reinforce Villanova's belief that they're a contender. Villanova has won the NCAA tournament only once in school history, and they've made it to the Final Four three times in 26 tournament appearances. The Wildcats would love to increase all three of those numbers by one before this season is over.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW WASHINGTON HUSKIES

The Huskies saw a lot of talent leave for the NBA during the offseason, including first-round picks Nate Robinson and Martell Webster, but they remained contenders after Brandon Roy decided to stay for his senior year. Roy could be used as an illustration of the definition for a complete player. The Huskies' guard has the versatility to line up almost anywhere on the court. Roy can seemingly do it all and do it all well. The senior has a dangerous outside shot and can also explode through the lane. He's sound defensively and has a knack for rebounding, despite his mediocre size. Roy may lead the Huskies in scoring, but he has plenty of help around him on a Huskies' squad that has led Division I in scoring for most of the season. Also averaging in double-figures in points are seniors Jamaal Williams and Bobby Jones Jr. While Williams is a lethal inside scorer who still needs to work on his defense, Jones Jr. also provides scoring punch inside and has become a triple threat by improving his outside scoring and also by shoring up his already impressive defensive skills. Washington was expecting great things from freshman Jon Brockman this season and so far he hasn't disappointed. The highly touted recruit can dominate the inside post, and he has demonstrated experience beyond his years by leading the Huskies in rebounding while pouring in almost 10 points a game. Another freshman, Justin Dentmon, has provided an offensive spark as well. Denton leads the Huskies in assists and has shown flashes of exciting offensive potential. After last season's Sweet 16 appearance, expectations will be high for the Huskies, but they won't sneak up on anybody with an offense that draws immediate attention. Washington's chances of making it back to the Sweet 16 or advancing further in the tournament will depend on their ability to maintain their up-tempo offense while keeping their opponents in check and off-balance with a pressure defense. A disappointing start to conference play that included losses to Washington State and California, showed that the Huskies' weaknesses (notably turnovers and costly mental mistakes) can be exploited, and their offense can be thwarted. The Huskies have to prove they have the physical and mental toughness to compete in the big games, or they could be ripe for the picking for a big upset early on in the tournament.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

A 6-foot-11 bear of a man steps in front of you, nearly stuffs the ball down your throat, then calmly drains a 3-pointer in transition. That man is Kevin Pittsnoggle, and he's pleased to meet you. Powered by Pittsnoggle, the Mountaineers won their first eight Big East games in a row, a feat last achieved by the UConn Huskies in 1993-94. His senior season has been a thing of beauty: 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, along with a 43-percent success rate on his trey attempts. And Pittsnoggle achieved this despite spending several weeks waiting for his wife, Heather, to give birth. She finally delivered a healthy baby boy via Caesarean section on Feb. 3. Fortunately for WVU supporters, he has an excellent supporting cast. Senior forward Mike Gansey is a 6-foot-4 scrapper who somehow manages to grab 5.4 boards to go with his 18.8 points and 2.3 steals per game. Gansey is also a serious outside threat, connecting at almost 50 percent from downtown. Complementing this dynamic duo is the senior guard from Darmstadt, Germany, Johannes "Joe" Herber. His game has tailed off a bit since his key 23-point performance Jan. 8 at Villanova. After hitting 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers last year, Herber is just 4-for-22 since the big win over the Wildcats. But his assists and steals are on the rise. Joining Herber in the starting lineup are junior forward Frank Young and senior guard J.D. Collins, two excellent defenders who are also adept at dishing the ball to their top scorers. All told, the Mountaineers are second in the nation with 18.8 assists per game, while also ranking No. 2 with a mere 8.9 turnovers. This is by and large the same WVU squad that went to the Elite Eight last year, upsetting Wake Forest and Texas Tech before losing an overtime heartbreaker to Louisville. If there is an Achilles heel, it could be depth. Aside from sixth man Patrick Beilein, the senior guard and son of coach John Beilein, nobody on the Morgantown bench is getting a lot of playing time in 2006. The X-factor could be sophomore guard Darris Nichols. He's more of a playmaker than a gunner, but on a team that relies on speed and ball distribution, Nichols will have to be given some more burn to keep the main unit fresh going into March Madness.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

After starting last season 20-0, the Eagles lost four of eight before the NCAA Tournament and then were abruptly upset in the second round by Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Eagles can forget all about that and forget all about the Big East as well, after moving over to the ACC. The ACC, home of last year's National Champion appeared to have only one real contender this season in the form of Duke. The mere fact the Boston College just missed handing the Blue Devils a loss in a tight 83-81 battle should mean things are looking up for the Eagles in their new conference. The Eagles' strength, and sometimes weakness in the ACC, is their strong inside game. Forwards Craig Smith and Jared Dudley make a lethal inside duo that can score and rebound. Both are tough players to shut down and can play decent defense at the other end of the floor. The inside game can also be the Eagles' weakness on occasion because the ACC is a conference led by point guards. The Eagles' man at the point, Louis Hinnant, is a sure passer but his shooting can be suspect. So far Hinnant has been hitting a high percentage of his shots, but the main reason for that is he isn't taking many, leaving the scoring to Smith and Dudley. The Eagles' other point threat is also their best shooter, Sean Marshall. Marshall is really the Eagles' only big threat from the perimeter, which could be a weakness teams will try and exploit in the NCAA tournament. Head coach Al Skinner has tried to erase this problem by getting reserve guard Tyrese Rice more minutes. The freshman Rice has a sure shot and is averaging almost double-figures in points despite failing to crack the starting lineup so far this season. One player to watch heading into March is big man Sean Williams. The 6-foot-10 sophomore missed the fall semester due to a suspension for marijuana possession, and could add another dominant inside presence for the Eagles if his minutes increase. Williams is always a wild card because of his sometimes erratic behavior, but the potential to be an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder is still there. The Eagles are a talented squad, and if they can shore up their perimeter shooting to balance with their dominant inside attack they should easily improve on last season's second-round tournament exit.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW CONNECTICUT HUSKIES

The University of Connecticut Huskies went into March Madness last season with hopes of repeating as NCAA tournament champions. As the No. 2 seed in the Syracuse region of the tournament, the Huskies' biggest test was going to be the region's No. 1 seed, the North Carolina Tar Heels. But they promptly fell to No. 10 seed North Carolina State in the tournament's second round That end to the season left a bad taste in the mouth of Jim Calhoun's squad, which only got worse when star player Charlie Villanueva left for the NBA draft (getting taken seventh overall by the Toronto Raptors), and guard Marcus Williams received an indefinite suspension prior to the season for his involvement in the theft of some laptop computers on UConn's campus. The Huskies picked up wins in 20 of their first 21 games this season, shot all the way up the rankings to No. 1, and announced to their Big East rivals that they would be the team to beat in the conference tournament. Leading the way for the Huskies is Rudy Gay, last year's co- Big East Rookie of the Year and an outstanding NBA prospect. Gay's emerging ability to control a game has his team riding high, and has offset the loss of Villanueva. Also key is forward-center Josh Boone, who scores, rebounds, and blocks shots, and was last year's Big East Defensive Player of the Year. With the Boone-Gay combo up front, and Williams back from suspension and adding his superb passing skills into the mix, it's easy to see why the Huskies boast one of the country's top offenses, and a defense that ranks above the national average as well in points-per-game allowed. And all that skill will be showcased come the postseason, as the Huskies strive to avoid another embarrassing, early tournament exit. Back-to-back victories over ranked Arizona and Gonzaga early in the year have been UConn's most impressive to date, but their real test comes over the final month when they match up with highly-ranked Villanova (twice) and West Virginia in regular-season play, and then face all their Big East rivals again in the conference tournament. A strong showing down the stretch would give the Huskies confidence; a falter here or there might be enough to dredge up last year's bad memories and blow UConn's shot at their third tourney title in school history.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW DUKE BLUE DEVILS

DUKE BLUE DEVILS
A typically strong year last season saw the Blue Devils win the ACC tournament, and get seeded No. 1 in the Austin region of the NCAA tournament. After dispatching No. 16 seed Delaware State and No. 9 seed Mississippi State, the Blue Devils were unceremoniously bounced by No. 5 seed Michigan State (who were later eliminated by eventual champion - and Duke rival - North Carolina). Duke wasn't expected to be a contender last season and they still managed to get a No. 1 tournament seed and advance to the regional semifinals. It's a different story this year - the Blue Devils, with a strong returning core and a top-ranked freshman class, were the preseason pick to win it all at several publications, and a big favorite to take the ACC title. And how did Mike Krzyzewski's team respond to such lofty expectations out of the gate? By winning their first 17 contests, and not picking up a loss until they fell short on the road versus Georgetown on January 21. That streak wasn't compiled against creampuff opponents either - Duke beat ranked teams Memphis, Indiana, Texas, Wake Forest, Maryland, and North Carolina State in that stretch. Of course, winning comes easy when you have a player like guard J.J. Redick in your lineup. Averaging close to 30 points-per-game this season, Redick is a deadly outside shooter who's great under pressure and is battling Gonzaga's Adam Morrison for the title of 'Best Player in the Country.' Adding to Redick's effectiveness is the play of forward Shelden Williams, an elite defensive player who dominates on the boards and averages almost four blocked shots per game. Teams that focus on Redick leave Williams open to wreak havoc under the basket; teams that try to shut down Williams give Redick free reign to pour in the points. Senior guard Sean Dockery complements Redick's game, while a pair of freshman - forward Josh McRoberts and guard Greg Paulus - have been contributing to the team's success as well. This team, though, will go only as far as Redick, Williams, and of course Krzyzewski, take them. Barring a late-season collapse they'll be a top seed in the tourney once again. That No. 1 ranking didn't get them very far last season, but the Blue Devils are usually magic during March Madness, and two quick tournament departures in a row doesn't seem likely.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW FLORIDA GATORS

The Florida Gators have advanced to the NCAA tournament only 11 times in the school's history, with no titles and just two Final Four appearances on the Gators' resume. Last year, Florida was the No. 4 seed in the Syracuse region of the tournament, but after beating Ohio in the first round they were knocked out by No. 5 seed Villanova in the second round. The Gators' 2004/05 season has to be considered a success - they won the SEC tournament for the first time ever, and they advanced to the big dance for the seventh season in a row. The question for 2005/06 was whether Billy Donovan's team could repeat that success, with several players leaving the program. In fact, the Gators lost over half of their scoring from last year, and no returning player averaged doubledigit points-per-game. All of that sounds like a recipe for disaster, but 17 straight wins to start the 2005/06 season says otherwise. Two losses in a row in late January - on the road to both Tennessee and South Carolina - knocked them down a notch, although a top 10 finish to the season is still well within reach. Leading the Gators this season are a quartet of sophomores in Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, and Al Horford, along with junior Lee Humphrey. Green is the team's top scorer and assists-man, and a threat from three-point range. Brewer was named to the SEC's All Freshman Team last season, and is a solid defender who can also score from all over the floor. Horford, the team's power forward, controls the backboard and combines with Noah for a steady, shotblocking duo. Their development has Florida them thinking about a second straight SEC championship. During their 17-game winning streak, the Gators only beat two ranked teams - Wake Forest and Syracuse. And both the Demon Deacons and the Orangemen subsequently fell out of the rankings. Within the SEC, there are no real powerhouses, with the Gators themselves the top-ranked team and Tennessee and LSU both a bit back of them in the polls (through the end of January). That means Florida hasn't come up against a dominant team this season. Securing a high seed will delay that matchup, but eventually we'll find out if the Gators of 2005/06 can step it up and make a better run at the title than their predecessors of 2004/05.

2006 MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW GEORGETOWN HOYAS

Ask, and ye shall receive. John Thompson III, the son of the man who coached the Hoyas to a national title in 1984, was hired to rebuild Georgetown's once-great program. Last year's results were impressive: Thompson took a club replete with fresh recruits to the quarterfinals of the NIT. Those same players are now poised to make some noise at the big dance. A six-game winning streak including upset wins over Duke and Notre Dame elevated the Hoyas to 7-2 in conference action and No. 16 in the rankings. Three of Thompson's recruits have made the grade as sophomores. Forward Jeff Green's overall numbers (11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds) are down slightly from his rookie campaign, but he's been lighting up the Big East, especially when Thompson uses him as a point forward. Green's 18 points and seven assists versus the Blue Devils were a revelation. Roy Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 monster, is piling up 11.6 points and six boards in just 22.4 minutes per game. And point guard Jonathan Wallace has fully absorbed Thompson's Princeton-style offense, canning 46.6 percent of his 3-point attempts while limiting his turnovers. These three players are the heart and soul of the Hoyas, and continue to get better as the season progresses. Fleshing out the starting five and aiding the development of the super sophomores are seniors Ashanti Cook and Brandon Bowman. Cook, a combo guard playing the point, has cut down on his trey attempts and improved his accuracy from 37.7 to a stellar 46.3 percent. Bowman, meanwhile, is taking more of a backseat to Green after two seasons of over 15 points per game, but he, Green, Hibbert and Cook are all bunched up at the top of the Hoyas' stat sheet. Georgetown should be even better next year after Bowman and Cook have moved on. Thompson has drawn recruits to the nation's capital in droves; this year's freshman class includes four players, with guard Jesse Sapp getting the most action at 15.3 minutes per contest. The young bench is anchored by senior swingman Darrel Owens, yet another sure-handed playmaker hitting over 40 percent of his 3-pointers. That depth should serve the Hoyas well in escaping the difficult Big East and getting a decent seed at the NCAA Tournament. Expect plenty of television time for Georgetown once they get there - no doubt with Thompson and his father as the prominent "feelgood" story.

Super Bowl XL

Super Bowl 40 (Super Bowl XL) will be held in Detroit, and this year Super Bowl Sunday will be February 5th.

Before getting ready for steaks, dips, BBQ, and of course beer which makes Super Bowl Sunday a gathering event, let's take a better look at what we are going to watch:

Who would believe these two teams would make it? NOBODY. Sportsbetting fans must have stumbled a lot on the route of these two teams:

Colts, undefeated with a 13-0 startup record, chewed by the Steelers: "luck"? Well they say experience and luck always go together even if it is bad luck, but having the Steelers continue to make history, becoming not only the first team since the 1985 Patriots to win three road games en route to the Super Bowl but also the first 6 seed to make it to the Super Bowl. Sportsbooks must have loved this one.

On the other hand Seattle has never been on a Super Bowl, Super Bowl XL will be their first, but it's Mike Holmgren's third trip to the Super Bowl.

Seahawks could choke or Steelers "luck" run out of luck.

Both clubs rolled to victory in the championship games, with Pittsburgh beating Denver 34-17, while Seattle slammed the door on the Panthers' season with a 34-14 triumph.

I found some Sportsbook Super Bowl XL Odds and would like to share them with all of you:

Super Bowl XL Odds