Follow@cimini

John, Zack, and Jeff discuss the Conference USA Saturday matchup between Western Kentucky and Marshall. Who will have the ATS advantage in this game Saturday.

Follow@cimini

Even though Syracuse has self-imposed a post season ban, Saturday’s matchup versus Duke will still draw plenty of attention. Las Vegas based handicappers, Zack, Jeff, and John break down the game from an odds perspective.

Follow Zack on Twitter@cimini

Tulsa is 10-1 in the American conference. They have managed that record because of sound defense and solid guard play offensively. Thursday they travel to face the defending champion UConn Huskies. UConn likely will not be in this year’s NCAA tournament unless they win the American conference tournament.

Coach Kevin Ollie just has not been able to get enough offense from there entire team. Guards Omar Calhoun, Sam Cassell Jr, Terrence Samuel, and Rodney Purvis just have not succeeded to help aid senior guard Ryan Boatright. Daniel Hamilton has tried to alleviate the pressure from Boatright but is probably a year away from filling that role.

In the earlier matchup between these two, Tulsa attacked UConn in half court sets at the rim. It worked and kept UConn’s transition offense in check.

The odds will surely be on UConn’s side as this is a key game for UConn and the anticipation is for a Tulsa loss. I’m don’t think that’s the right route to go with UConn’s consistent struggles to score. Kevin Ollie has tried everything to get the offense in gear and they just do not have the weapons to sustain an offensive edge against Tulsa. To win this game it’ll need to be done in a slow paced defensive battle.

Follow@cimini

Duke put on a monster offensive performance on Saturday against Notre Dame. One that displayed just how effective Duke is growing as a team. Their young freshman are not only shooting the basketball lights out but they’re confidence amongst each other is starting to show too. Exuberant celebrations and the glow of a team that knows they’re on the verge of being one of the top teams in March.

It happens all the time in the month of February. Teams with young freshman and sophomore that take leaps and bounds in February. After back to back losses to NC State and Miami, Duke has been a much better defensive team. They clamped down against Louisville by using a zone defense and against St. John’s they wore an undersized and team with lack of depth down.

Duke is doing it in all phases now but will that translate over to continued point spread success? Money backing the Blue Devils will only continue to rise now after their strong performances. Tonight they travel and take on ACC rival Florida State.

The opening line was near 10 but has risen as high as 11.5. Florida State is a team that has been a shell of the ACC team we’ve seen the last three to four seasons. Scoring is difficult for the Seminoles as they do not have capable scorers as they did a season ago. But against teams in the ACC that are vulnerable with poor defense they have shown a tendency to claw back in games. They did so in a loss to NC State and were able to come back and defeat both Wake Forest(overtime) and Miami. They also recently defeated Virginia Tech as a slight road underdog.

Their size could be a problem for Duke but the main question is if they can avoid a poor five to seven minute stretch offensively.

It’s tough to pinpoint which Florida State team will show up. The one over the last three to four games or the one that looks like a bottom tier ACC team.

March Madness Betting Guide by betonsports.com. Check the NCAAB key betting trends today

Backing Duke after a monster home win of thirty points two days ago also one I would stay away from.

Take: Pass

Follow@cimini

Down in Tucson, Arizona the Sun Devils will try to avoid a lopsided loss against the top tier Wildcats. A year ago they did defeat Arizona in a wild affair in Tempe to split the series in 2013-2014. Can they replicate last year’s fortune? It’ll be a tough accomplishment down in Tucson. It’s just an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minute drive from Tempe to Tucson. See where Vegas handicappers Jeff, Zack, and John see the winning side from a spread standpoint.

Follow@cimini

Saturday in the Pac-12 the Utah Utes travel to Colorado to square off in conference play. The Utes have neck and neck with Arizona as the strength of the conference. Colorado has the same core group of a year ago, as the played without Dinwiddie much of the season. Yet injuries have kept them from consistent play. Will a home game against the Utes start the turn around to their season or buckle it even more? Catch what Zack, Jeff, and John have to say about the game from a Vegas perspective.