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NCAA Final Four The final four teams slug it out this weekend at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio to see who goes on to the Championship game on April 5th
Nigel Ridgway
02-Apr-2004
NCAA Final Four
The final four teams slug it out this weekend at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio to see who goes on to the Championship game on April 5th.
The final four teams slug it out this weekend at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio to see who goes on to the Championship game on April 5th.
Georgia Tech (+5.0 10/11) vs Oklahoma (-5.0 10/11), Sunday, 00:05 GMT
The Cowboys have taken both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big12, and are on a 10-game winning streak, having lost only once in their last 22 games. Their point guard, John Lucas, took over the second half of their regional final game over St Joseph's, scoring 17 of his 19 points after the intermission, including the game winner with 7 seconds left. It was the Jackets point guard, Jarret Jack, who stepped in with 29 points in their overtime victory over Kansas in the final of the St Louis regional, but it is their consistent 7-1 centre Luke Schenscher who has been the key to their success in March. In such a closely matched game his presence could just make the difference.
The Cowboys have taken both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big12, and are on a 10-game winning streak, having lost only once in their last 22 games. Their point guard, John Lucas, took over the second half of their regional final game over St Joseph's, scoring 17 of his 19 points after the intermission, including the game winner with 7 seconds left. It was the Jackets point guard, Jarret Jack, who stepped in with 29 points in their overtime victory over Kansas in the final of the St Louis regional, but it is their consistent 7-1 centre Luke Schenscher who has been the key to their success in March. In such a closely matched game his presence could just make the difference.
Connecticut (-2.0 10/11) vs Duke (+2.0 10/11), Sunday, 02:35 GMT
The second game has the markings of the championship game, and should be a classic encounter between the two most talented teams in the country. The second-seeded Huskies have `steamrolled' their way through so far with an average winning margin of 17.5 in their last four games! Their game revolves around All-American centre Emeka Okafor, who has the ability to dominate at both ends of the court. The problem has been a bad back and shoulder that have hampered him at the offensive end, but he is expected to ready for Sunday's game. The Blue Devils are the only top seed to come out of the regional brackets, yet find themselves as underdogs. They have yet to fire on all cylinders offensively, but have played shutdown defence. It is their inside game of Williams and Deng that has been the difference so far in the tourney, and they could just tip the balance in the Blue Devils favour on Sunday.
The second game has the markings of the championship game, and should be a classic encounter between the two most talented teams in the country. The second-seeded Huskies have `steamrolled' their way through so far with an average winning margin of 17.5 in their last four games! Their game revolves around All-American centre Emeka Okafor, who has the ability to dominate at both ends of the court. The problem has been a bad back and shoulder that have hampered him at the offensive end, but he is expected to ready for Sunday's game. The Blue Devils are the only top seed to come out of the regional brackets, yet find themselves as underdogs. They have yet to fire on all cylinders offensively, but have played shutdown defence. It is their inside game of Williams and Deng that has been the difference so far in the tourney, and they could just tip the balance in the Blue Devils favour on Sunday.
bet365 NCAA Men's championship prices...Connecticut 6/4, Duke 9/4, Oklahoma St 12/5, Georgia Tech 8/1.
NBA...SA Spurs @ LA Lakers (Sunday, 20.30 GMT)
San Antonio are now just 2 ½ games behind struggling Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference after a win over their rivals at the SBC Center on Wednesday night. Tim Duncan added 19 points and Bruce Bowen chipped in 16 for the Spurs, who have now won their last four straight games. The Lakers are on a roll too, continuing their dominant recent play with a thumping 107-88 victory over the Hornets on Tuesday night, and have fought their way into third spot in the West. The Spurs will not be relishing their trip to the Staples Center on Sunday, where the Lakers are an impressive 31-5 for the season.
San Antonio are now just 2 ½ games behind struggling Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference after a win over their rivals at the SBC Center on Wednesday night. Tim Duncan added 19 points and Bruce Bowen chipped in 16 for the Spurs, who have now won their last four straight games. The Lakers are on a roll too, continuing their dominant recent play with a thumping 107-88 victory over the Hornets on Tuesday night, and have fought their way into third spot in the West. The Spurs will not be relishing their trip to the Staples Center on Sunday, where the Lakers are an impressive 31-5 for the season.
bet365 NBA Western Conference prices...Lakers 1/1, Kings 21/10, Timberwolves 9/2, Spurs 13/2, others on site.
Bet all the above games IN-RUNNING this weekend, where our markets will include Point Spread; Game Total; and Who Will Win the Quarter
NBA/NCAA Parlay Bonus
bet365 will continue to pay out the following bonuses on parlay wagers including NCAA and NBA matches, right through to the NCAA Championship game on April 5th:
bet365 will continue to pay out the following bonuses on parlay wagers including NCAA and NBA matches, right through to the NCAA Championship game on April 5th:
2-team parlay 5% 7-team parlay 25%
3-team parlay 7.5% 8-team parlay 30%
4-team parlay 10% 9-team parlay 35%
5-team parlay 15% 10-team parlay 40%
6-team parlay 20% 11-team parlay 45%
3-team parlay 7.5% 8-team parlay 30%
4-team parlay 10% 9-team parlay 35%
5-team parlay 15% 10-team parlay 40%
6-team parlay 20% 11-team parlay 45%
Have a winning 12, 13, or 14 team parlay - and receive a massive 50% bonus!
Bonus applies to winnings on NCAA and NBA 2- 14 team parlays on the following six markets:-
Game Pointspread; Game Total; First Half Spread; Second Half Spread; First Half Total; Second Half Total.
NHL...STL Blues @ NAS Predators (Saturday, 21.05 GMT)
Keith Tkachuk's Blues moved closer to a play-off berth with a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in a key Western Conference battle at the Savvis Center. Doug Weight tallied the only goal for St Louis, who have now won four straight and now sit just one point behind sixth-place Calgary in the West. The Predators did their own post-season chances no harm with a 5-2 win over Chicago on Tuesday, and are now tied with Edmonton for the eighth and final play-off spot. The Predators hold the tiebreaker over the Oilers with one more win, thanks to their loss to St Louis. Saturday's match-up will be crucial - game on!
Keith Tkachuk's Blues moved closer to a play-off berth with a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in a key Western Conference battle at the Savvis Center. Doug Weight tallied the only goal for St Louis, who have now won four straight and now sit just one point behind sixth-place Calgary in the West. The Predators did their own post-season chances no harm with a 5-2 win over Chicago on Tuesday, and are now tied with Edmonton for the eighth and final play-off spot. The Predators hold the tiebreaker over the Oilers with one more win, thanks to their loss to St Louis. Saturday's match-up will be crucial - game on!
Join us for live betting on the game, where our markets will include: Puck Line; Game Total; Next Goal Scored; Most Shots on Goal; Who Will Win the Period; and Next Period Total
Bell South Classic golf (starts Thursday)
Due to its position sandwiched between the Players Championship and the Masters, this week's Bell South Classic could well be a tournament where plenty of players are not putting it all in. Some may be taking it easy after the rigours of Sawgrass, while others, who have already booked their Masters place, can be excused for having one eye on next week. For example it is hard to envisage Adam Scott, whose only previous visit resulted in a 65th position, bringing his A-game to this week, whilst Mike Weir will be looking to make some last minute swing changes before his Masters defence. One player who always gives this event his full attention is Phil Mickleson. Apart from his play-off win back in 2000, Lefty has also finished third twice, so this is hardly a week he takes his foot off the gas! Dennis Paulson has no such worries either and he has kicked off the season with a string of strong performances, the highlight being a 10th place at Bay Hill last time out. His game is suited to the long and wide-open TPC course at Sugarloaf, where he finished third to Scott McCarron in 2001.
Due to its position sandwiched between the Players Championship and the Masters, this week's Bell South Classic could well be a tournament where plenty of players are not putting it all in. Some may be taking it easy after the rigours of Sawgrass, while others, who have already booked their Masters place, can be excused for having one eye on next week. For example it is hard to envisage Adam Scott, whose only previous visit resulted in a 65th position, bringing his A-game to this week, whilst Mike Weir will be looking to make some last minute swing changes before his Masters defence. One player who always gives this event his full attention is Phil Mickleson. Apart from his play-off win back in 2000, Lefty has also finished third twice, so this is hardly a week he takes his foot off the gas! Dennis Paulson has no such worries either and he has kicked off the season with a string of strong performances, the highlight being a 10th place at Bay Hill last time out. His game is suited to the long and wide-open TPC course at Sugarloaf, where he finished third to Scott McCarron in 2001.
bet365 pre-tournament prices...Mickleson 5/1, Harrington 12/1, Scott 14/1, Weir 14/1, Paulson 66/1. Bet this tournament IN-RUNNING, subject to TV coverage.
NASCAR, Samsung Radio Shack 500
This week's action takes place at one of the newer tracks, Texas Speedway in Fort Worth. With a configuration similar to Atlanta; there are lots of clues which can be plucked from the Golden Corral 500 which took place at that track recently. With Roush Racing already winning 3 races in Texas, you can expect Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle to run well, while Kasey Kahne should also be in the shake up on a track that should favour his no9 car. However once again, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr look the most likely suspects, with Earnhardt getting the vote for 'Victory Lane'.
This week's action takes place at one of the newer tracks, Texas Speedway in Fort Worth. With a configuration similar to Atlanta; there are lots of clues which can be plucked from the Golden Corral 500 which took place at that track recently. With Roush Racing already winning 3 races in Texas, you can expect Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle to run well, while Kasey Kahne should also be in the shake up on a track that should favour his no9 car. However once again, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr look the most likely suspects, with Earnhardt getting the vote for 'Victory Lane'.
bet365 prices....Newman 7/1, Earnhardt Jr. 15/2, Gordon 9/1, Kenseth 10/1, Johnson 10/1, Kahne 12/1, Biffle 25/1, others on site.
bet635's pre-race markets now include: Qualification Groups; Winning Manufacturer; Winning Car Number; Caution Flags; Lead Changes; and Group betting.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Be lucky.
Nigel