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00:00Sweet 16 action in college basketball here at 10.05 estimated start.
00:05That's Illinois going to take on Houston here, Joe.
00:07That line opened up at two and a half.
00:08It still sits today at minus two and a half points.
00:11The total of this game, listen, at 139 and a half.
00:14Two explosive teams on offense, on defense.
00:16You got everything you want to watch tonight, Joe.
00:19So what's the spread line that the people need to know for this one?
00:22Yeah, well, I mean, listen, anybody expect here tonight that Houston, of course we did.
00:28We'd expect Houston.
00:29We expected Illinois, Donnie.
00:31And you know what else?
00:32A lot of people very upset here that Houston, well, this game is in Houston at the Toyota
00:38Center here.
00:39You want to talk about a little home cooking.
00:41Do you know Houston has only lost nine games in that city since 2018?
00:48They love playing basketball in Houston here.
00:53And this is going to be a matchup of strength versus strength, defense versus offense, Donnie.
00:58Which one gives out?
01:00This could be the most.
01:01To me, this is a final four game.
01:03I'm not happy it's happening in the Sweet 16 because this would make an absolutely outrageous
01:10final four game.
01:11But only one team's going to advance here.
01:14And it's likely going to be the team that can get enough stops when it matters the most.
01:18Yeah, take a look at the Ken Palm numbers here.
01:20Illinois on offense, number two in efficiency.
01:22Houston on defense, number four nationally in efficiency.
01:25Flip it over to Houston's offense, top 10 in efficiency.
01:27And Illinois defense, top 25 in efficiency here.
01:30An absolutely fantastic game tonight on deck.
01:33Iowa and Nebraska, 730 start here.
01:35Joe, over.
01:36I should say, the opening numbers had Nebraska around a three and a half point favorite.
01:40That has dropped here.
01:41You see the graphic about to pop up.
01:42Minus one and a half points now as a favorite for Nebraska.
01:45The total, Joe, 131 and a half, which is also down from 134 and a half at the opening number.
01:51So price point coming down for the total.
01:53Price point coming down for the favorite, Joe.
01:55Iowa and Nebraska, what are we looking at as a spread line?
01:58Well, this is, again, the third meeting between these two teams, right?
02:02They know each other very well.
02:03We had mentioned the first game they played this year was about as ugly as you could get.
02:0957 to 52, Donnie, was the final score in that game.
02:14So they were able to actually shoot much better the second time they met.
02:18But listen, they've split the season series, and here we go.
02:22What's going to happen here?
02:23I don't, usually we see these totals move up.
02:27But with these two teams who know each other, who are not exactly the fastest-paced teams in the world,
02:33well, at least not Iowa anyway, yeah, this could be a lot more defense and a lot less offense again.
02:39I do agree with the move to the under, but to me this is all about what does Iowa have
02:45left in the tank, Donnie?
02:46Did they leave it all out there beating number one Florida?
02:50They know this team better than anybody.
02:52Not a lot of prep that has to go on here.
02:54If the Cornhuskers are making shots from three, the Cornhuskers win.
02:59If Iowa can get some stops, boy, oh boy, nobody would have seen a nine seed in the South moving
03:05on.
03:06Yeah, Big Ten represented, Joe, in three of these four games, as we just previewed there.
03:10Entirety of one game there with Iowa and Nebraska.
03:13My favorite game of the night, estimated 945 Eastern tip.
03:16It's Arkansas and it's Arizona.
03:18Line opened up around 8.5, but sits now, Joe.
03:21Most outlets at minus 7.5.
03:23You want points?
03:23Looks like we're going to get them, too.
03:26166.5.
03:27A couple talented youngsters there.
03:29Braden Berry's there for Arizona, and also Darius Acuff for Arkansas.
03:32Love this game.
03:33Should be fun to watch.
03:34We'll see how it goes down.
03:35What's your spread line for it, Joe?
03:37Yeah, I mean, Calipari, right?
03:40I mean, my goodness.
03:41He has been, I mean, as an underdog in the postseason, yeah, he has been really, really good throughout his
03:49career, Donnie.
03:50And Tommy Lloyd, for some reason, can't seem to get out of this round here.
03:56He's had some great teams over the years there with Arizona, and as well as Gonzaga when he was the
04:01assistant coach there.
04:02And guess what?
04:03Can't seem to get out there, at least not in the last three attempts.
04:06So, this is huge for them.
04:08Can they get over the hump, Arizona?
04:10If they're truly the best team in the country, they will win this game, and they will prove they're the
04:15best team in the country.
04:16But something tells me, don't count out Calipari and Acuff Jr. just yet.
04:21I think Arkansas is going to give Arizona all they can handle.
04:25Two games start in the 7 o'clock hour tonight.
04:27Texas and Purdue first on deck at 7-10, followed by Iowa and Nebraska at 7-30.
04:32The two late games tonight, Arkansas and Arizona estimated 9-45, and Illinois and Houston at 10-05.
04:37Sweet 16!
04:39It's almost here.
04:40First game of the night, Joe Ranieri.
04:42That's going to be 7-10 p.m. Eastern.
04:44It's Texas and it's Purdue.
04:45Line opened up around 6-and-a-half points.
04:47Now sitting to the most outlets at 7-and-a-half.
04:50What do you like about Purdue?
04:51Ken Palm says the most efficient basketball team on offense in the country, Joe.
04:56They don't turn the basketball over.
04:57They're very good at rebounding.
04:58They can shoot the three-point shot.
05:00They're very efficient from inside the arc as well.
05:03And we've got a total to set at 147-and-a-half, Joe.
05:06Game number one tonight, Texas-Purdue.
05:09Well, I'll tell you this, Donnie, and it makes sense, but Texas is by far the biggest public underdog darling
05:18that we have left here in the Sweet 16.
05:22And listen, it makes sense, right?
05:24I mean, first of all, the betting public loves, you know, themselves some underdogs.
05:29They love, you know, getting a ton of points.
05:31And the fact that it's usually 11 seeds, Donnie, that have all the success, I think, when it comes to
05:37March Madness.
05:38But what's ironic here is Texas is an 11 seed, an underdog, a Cinderella, like stop it.
05:45They have a bigger payroll on that roster than most teams do in the country here.
05:51That's one of the better teams money can buy.
05:53It just took Sean Miller a little while to figure it out.
05:56Different styles.
05:57I mean, listen, Texas can score with any of them because they have a lot of guys that can get
06:02to the rim and a lot of guys that can create their own shot.
06:05The problem with Texas is they foul a ton, and you know what's going to happen with Purdue.
06:11All the mid-range jump shots are going to set up the perimeter and the three jump shots.
06:16And if Purdue is making shots, I think this game goes flying over the total.
06:21Because I don't think Purdue defensively is going to give Texas a whole lot of resistance.
06:26But Purdue is going to score.
06:27I think that's for sure.
06:28They're going to get to the line.
06:30And I think the over is the way to look in this game here.
06:33I think we're going to get a ton of points in this matchup tonight.
06:37Texas, Joe, looking to go from first four to the final four.
06:40But before they get there, could they run into a matchup that maybe Sean Miller would love to see?
06:45Let's hear from them.
06:46I really haven't.
06:47I would hope they would cheer for us.
06:49We're the 11 seed.
06:50You know, if I were them, I'd want us to win.
06:53But my relationship with Arizona is nothing but great.
07:03I have three sons.
07:05They all attended the University of Arizona.
07:07And each of them had an amazing experience, two of the three.
07:12Their girlfriend, potentially maybe who they end up with as their wife, also went to Arizona.
07:18I was there for 13 years.
07:20I have friendships that will last a lifetime.
07:25I was treated, our family was treated incredibly well.
07:29And then, you know, my perspective of just watching Arizona, they couldn't have hired a better coach.
07:35I mean, what he has done is just, it's like legendary.
07:40And I know that the team that they have this year might be the best team at Arizona, one of
07:46the best ever.
07:47So that's where that stands.
07:50I mean, if we would beat Purdue, that's, I'm at Texas.
07:54That would be like amazing.
07:55We're playing in the Elite Eight.
07:57But the other part of it doesn't really exist for me.
08:01You know, I think with that emotion, you can either burn the house down or make it warmer.
08:06And, you know, I look at that place and that experience as nothing but just making my house warmer.
08:14It's, I have nothing but positive thoughts, feelings, and perspectives towards that experience.
08:22Translation, Joe, let me add Arizona.
08:25I'll cut their heart out.
08:27Well, I'm curious because can't, if you burn down the house, don't you, doesn't that mean it automatically gets warmer,
08:34Donnie?
08:35I'm a little confused with his analogy there because, oh, we can burn it down or get, oh, if you
08:39burn it down, it's going to get warmer one way or the other.
08:42But people forget, Donnie, that Sean Miller was supposed to be Lloyd there.
08:47I mean, Sean Miller was Arizona before he got embroiled in all sorts of sneaker controversies and everything else there.
08:55But, listen, you know, it goes around and comes around, right?
08:58It's so funny how the basketball gods work here.
09:02That would be something, though.
09:03That's for sure.
09:03Texas, Arizona with him would be something else.
09:07I'll tell you what's something else tonight.
09:08Iowa and Nebraska reaching the Sweet 16, the Big Ten, loving their action, what they see.
09:13And also, as we talked about to open up the show, Joe, line dropping.
09:16Graphics says one and a half.
09:17It was at three and a half.
09:18That line moving towards Iowa's direction as the ninth seed here, Joe, and a low total, the lowest of the
09:23night in college basketball at 131 and a half.
09:27Yeah, there are going to be a lot of turnovers, a lot of – this is going to be a
09:32fun game, Donnie,
09:33but also at the same time likely one of the most disgusting games that you see because aesthetically it's not
09:39going to be very –
09:40it's going to be like watching the Washington Wizards, a Utah Jazz play with a bunch of G League players.
09:45It's not going to be fun at all.
09:48But I think it's got a potential to be very close, and ultimately we saw Nebraska in one kind of
09:55walk-off, you know,
09:56shot at the buzzer kind of win where we might see another one in this game.
10:01I'll tell you what you are going to see, some action and some fireworks when Arkansas is going to take
10:05on Arizona.
10:06We just heard from Sean Miller right there saying, you know what, let me at Arizona.
10:09We'll see if Arizona can get by Coach Cal and the boys.
10:12Eight and a half numbers at the opening line.
10:14It actually dropped a little bit to seven and a half, but look at that total, Joe.
10:17One, sixty, six and a half.
10:19That means both teams get 82-81.
10:21You don't even get a cover if you take the over.
10:24We're looking at points tonight and a lot of electricity in the building, Arkansas and Arizona.
10:30Well, I mean, this is going to be interesting, to say the least.
10:34Again, Calipari over the years in the postseason as an underdog has been absolute money.
10:41But could this be the end of that run here?
10:45Because Arizona is the best team in the country, and I'm kind of with you.
10:50I think the total's not high enough.
10:52I don't know that I could sweat out an under in this game, Donnie.
10:55It feels like this is going to be, I have no doubt, Arkansas, and they're going to leave
11:01it all out on the court, which might mean 90 points is going to have to win this game, Donnie.
11:07How about this?
11:08The night captain, I expected to tip at 10-05.
11:10It's Illinois taking on Houston, Joe.
11:12That line opened up at two and a half, still sits at two and a half.
11:15Total, 139 and a half.
11:16Efficiency on both ends of the court.
11:18A fantastic game, Joe.
11:19And home court advantage looks to be here for Houston.
11:22Let's take a look at Brad Underwood and what he's talking about going up against Houston.
11:26You know, I've been asked that before, and I'll be honest, I could care less.
11:33And I'm going to sound really kind of selfish here.
11:37I'm an old Juco ball coach.
11:39I drove on 16 passenger vans.
11:43I drove from Dodge City, Kansas to Mesa, Arizona for a basketball game for a tournament in a bus.
11:49You had told me back then that I'm getting to coach basketball in the Sweet 16 and play Houston.
11:54I would sign up for it.
11:56I would crawl to get there.
12:00If we want to beat them, no matter where we play them, we'd have to play great.
12:03Guess what?
12:04We're going to have to do that tomorrow.
12:06And I think they're going to have to play well if they want a chance to beat us.
12:10And so we've won on the road.
12:13We've been pretty successful doing that in the Big Ten.
12:16So I don't pay too much attention to it.
12:19I'm just grateful for the opportunity.
12:20And, you know, playing Houston is a challenge enough.
12:25It doesn't matter where.
12:27I'll tell you what's really interesting about this game, Joe, is we handicap.
12:30Like, sometimes you see some, like, anomalies, right?
12:32Illinois' defense doesn't force any turnovers at all.
12:34They're dead last in the country doing that, which means you should get a more efficient Houston who never turns
12:38the basketball over.
12:39However, Illinois' defense, number one in the nation at not fouling.
12:44And then you take, like, Houston's offense, one of the worst teams at getting to the free throw line.
12:48It's such an interesting game with two unbelievable offenses and defenses, Joe, as it plays out in Houston tonight.
12:55Yeah, and a lot of this is going to be what is Illinois' what are their guards, right?
12:59What does the young freshman who had to step up in a big, big way there, Keaton Wagler.
13:06But don't forget, they got Kellen Boswell back for this game.
13:09So what is going to happen once Houston puts that ball pressure on them?
13:14Turnovers?
13:15Illinois doesn't get turnovers.
13:17When it comes to the defensive metrics, Illinois is not the team that's going to win with defense.
13:22They're going to out-shoot you, and the math's going to work in their favor.
13:26If they have an off-night shooting, Donnie, that's the difference in this game, is can Houston make it uncomfortable
13:33for those guards?
13:34If they do at home, boy, oh boy, this is—Houston's going to win this game comfortably.
13:40Re-racking the Sweet 16 of the odds prices here if you think these teams are going to cut down
13:44the nets.
13:45The favorite is Michigan, followed by Arizona, and then those, Duke Blue Devils, Joe.
13:50And tonight, we get started, and it rolls right into the weekend.
13:53It's a great time in sports, and it's a great time to watch the Sports Grid Network.
13:57We'll be back.
13:58Right back at it here.
13:58It's a Thursday.
13:59It's a Sweet 16 Thursday.
14:00It's opening day in Major League Baseball.
14:03And so many topics to get to today.
14:05It's on the right side.
14:06It's Joe Ranieri, and it's Kevin Walsh, host of Game Time Decisions with Gabriel Morenci, 6 p.m. to 7
14:11p.m. Eastern, right here on the Sports Grid Network.
14:14How about that opening, huh?
14:16Professional.
14:17It was nice.
14:18It was nice.
14:19I don't know.
14:19Something's going to be coming around the corner.
14:21No digs.
14:21That's the only thing I can expect here.
14:25All right.
14:25Nah, no digs today.
14:26We got business to get to, Kevin.
14:28And the business I want to talk about first is, I'll tell you something right now.
14:31You know we do predictive markets around here.
14:33Maybe you're looking at FanDuel.
14:34Maybe you're looking at DraftKings.
14:35I'm seeing a Philadelphia 76ers team coming back together like this.
14:40Joel Embiid, Paul George, 20-point victory last night.
14:43Why not us, Kevin?
14:45I say, why not us?
14:46I actually am not mad at that.
14:48I'm open to the world where the 76ers, for the first time in a long time, went, you know what?
14:56Let's be honest about Joel Embiid.
14:59There's no way he stays healthy for a full season.
15:03Let's see how we look when he's out there.
15:06They're like, awesome.
15:08Let's bench him.
15:09I didn't, like, I'll be honest.
15:11He snuck by me last night.
15:12I didn't know he was back on the slate.
15:14I should have known, though, when they were scoring 157 points, 120, 120 points through three quarters.
15:23Here is the one thing, truly, that I know people might try and roll their eyes.
15:28If you have the best player in the conference, you have a chance to win the conference.
15:34When Joel Embiid is healthy, he can very easily be the best player in the Eastern Conference.
15:42You couldn't help but to be impressed with the defense.
15:45They smacked down the Bulls in the fourth quarter last night.
15:49Yeah, I mean, you just couldn't.
15:51Honestly, defense wins championships.
15:53So they'll be on the golf course sooner rather than later here.
15:57But let's face it.
15:58We've got, come on, we got Sweet 16 action happening here tonight.
16:02I think some intriguing games here, Kevin, we're being honest.
16:06You know, what do you do when a team has already seen you twice, knows you very well?
16:11What do we do here with Nebraska and Iowa?
16:14Because this could be some ugly basketball here when it's all said and done.
16:18Yeah, it sure could.
16:20I think it's one of those games, though, at least for myself, where I had the same thought as you,
16:25Joe,
16:25when I saw the, I think the opening number was 134 and a half.
16:29I was like, oh, boy.
16:30You know, you got to play some ugly hoop when you see a 134 and a half and you go,
16:34that looks 10 points too high.
16:35But it has come down now to 131 and a half here.
16:41The one thing when you look into this game is who's going to dictate everything for Iowa?
16:50You'd imagine it be Bennett Sturtz.
16:52And it was a miraculous win over Florida.
16:57It's even more improbable that they won while Sturtz was awful, at least efficiency-wise.
17:0213 points on 5 of 16 shooting, 0 of 9 from 3, just the 5 boards and 5 assists.
17:09For those who can bet the college basketball player prop market,
17:14I find Sturtz to be a very tempting play.
17:17Because while I know Nebraska is much slower than Florida, I think going from that Gators defense to Nebraska,
17:28Sturtz should find a lot more success inside.
17:31And he also just should not be going 0 for 9.
17:33He goes 2 for 9 from 3.
17:35He might get you 25 points in this game.
17:38The game number twos tonight are absolutely sensational.
17:41My only anger is I won't be around to watch either one of those games tonight.
17:45So if we could have put those earlier games on at 4 o'clock and these on at 6,
17:48I would have loved it because Arkansas, Arizona is everything you love about college basketball.
17:53Coaches that could be lightning rods here.
17:55Unbelievable talent.
17:56Guys that are already getting shoe deals as freshmen in college because they're so good.
18:00Your total, Joe, or excuse me, total for here, Kevin.
18:02One 66 and a half and a favorite of Arizona, minus 7 and a half.
18:07Buries is out there getting off.
18:08You got Acuff that's going to go off tonight.
18:10So much fun in this one, Kevin.
18:12How are we playing this night, Arizona and Arkansas?
18:14Yeah, it's a really fun game to break down.
18:17The one thing I was a little surprised by, I think I just kind of assumed from afar
18:22that Arkansas shot a bunch of threes because they have a bunch of NBA guys, right?
18:28Darius Acuff, Malik Thomas, even Trevon Brazil will step out.
18:32They don't shoot as many threes because Arizona is an uber-efficient team
18:39who basically has one guy they trust to shoot the three-point shot,
18:43and it's Buries, as you mentioned, Donnie.
18:46And sometimes you, math is math, right?
18:49And like three is more so than two.
18:53So for Arkansas, I wonder if they uptick that three-point volume a little bit here
18:59in this game introduced some of the variants because for Arizona, it is quite impressive.
19:06We had a stretch where not that they were viewed as a cut below,
19:11but nobody thought they were the best team in college basketball.
19:13We can't pretend that that was the case.
19:15It was Michigan and Duke viewed as the one-two clearly.
19:19Michigan was seen as the one.
19:21Duke beat them.
19:21People were like, okay, it's Duke-Michigan instead of Michigan-Duke.
19:24And Arizona are the favorites, right?
19:26Arizona's at a top marginally, I get it, Ken Palm.
19:29So it's been a really impressive run.
19:31But, you know, I've seen this is the biggest dog price that John Calipari has been
19:36since he's been at UMass.
19:38These are spots that Cal's comfortable in.
19:42No expectations.
19:44You know, Cal comes up with excuses for when they play Hawaii in high point.
19:48But I've never seen two ball clubs this good here.
19:51Now he plays a team in Arizona where it's house money.
19:55That's a dangerous John Calipari.
19:59I agree.
20:00I agree with you.
20:01And now, listen, it can't all be chalk, right?
20:04There's got to be one outright upset in the Sweet 16.
20:08What game does it happen?
20:10Is it Texas?
20:12Who is it?
20:13Who's the outright winner?
20:14You know, it's interesting.
20:16But the more I look at this slate, might even carry over tomorrow, sometimes, like, I'm not
20:23saying I'm not breaking these games down.
20:25But I wonder if it's like, you know what?
20:27Let's just click every dog.
20:28Let's click every dog and see what we got out of here with.
20:31But they all do feel like Texas can absolutely hang with Purdue.
20:36Miami was up at the break against that team.
20:39And I think Texas, at this point in the year, is better than the Miami Hurricanes team.
20:44Not by a lot, but I think Texas is a little bit better.
20:47It's a light number when we talk about a Houston-Illinois game.
20:51But I think Illinois is a tough matchup for the Cougars.
20:54And I know the three of us will talk tomorrow.
20:58You're telling me the Johnnies can't knock off Duke?
21:01They absolutely can.
21:02So, I think we should have some dogs barking here in the Sweet 16, but still setting up
21:10some pretty fun Elite 8 games.
21:12Sweet 16s without the Cinderella.
21:14Love to see if people, tomorrow's a Friday, Kevin Walsh will be right back to join him
21:18for Game Time Decisions tonight.
21:26It feels like a college basketball night.
21:28Like, whoa, you guys got to go baseball.
21:29Sweet 16 tonight.
21:30It's going to captivate your attention, y'all.
21:33Let you lead the way.
21:34Where are we going tonight?
21:35Nah, well, it's simple.
21:36Just fade the Mets here, opening day.
21:38There's your baseball angle.
21:39And let's go to college basketball here, Donnie.
21:43And the game of the night.
21:45And I'm sorry.
21:47Playing in Houston is an advantage for Houston.
21:50And that's exactly what they're doing here tonight.
21:53Again, only nine losses since 2018.
21:57The Houston Cougars have when they play in the city of Houston.
22:02Styles make fights, Donnie.
22:04You got one of the best defensive teams.
22:06I think I have a coaching advantage going up against one of the best offensive teams.
22:12I just don't, I'm not buying it.
22:15We have seen Illinois lose twice to Wisconsin, once to UCLA, once to Michigan, and once to
22:22Michigan State.
22:23And you know what?
22:24None of those teams defensively are as physical or play bully ball like Houston does.
22:30That is the Achilles heel of Illinois.
22:32And that is why Houston wins this game going away here tonight.
22:36Ooh, I'm going to go against the public here tonight, Joe.
22:39I'm going to take that 945 game, Arkansas versus Arizona, which is out at the SAP Center
22:44in San Jose.
22:44So time advantage going towards Arizona.
22:48Arizona only getting 29% of the tickets right now.
22:50That line currently sits at seven and a half.
22:52I'm taking the number three most efficient defense in the country and pairing with the
22:56number four most efficient offense today.
22:58Show up or show out.
23:00I'm going Arizona in a public fade against Arkansas.
23:04By the way, I like Arkansas.
23:05Fun basketball team.
23:06Absolutely no doubt about it.
23:07But tonight, it's a wildcat night for me.
23:10Two games we gave you tonight.
23:12College basketball action.
23:13It's time to get the party started, Joe.
23:14And by the way, late night action as well.
23:18Yeah, absolutely.
23:19And again, baseball in the afternoon, college basketball right through at the end.
23:24It is a beautiful time of year.
23:26It is a great time of year.
23:28And also, do you know what comes up next year?
23:30Prediction markets edge.
23:32You're going to love this year because it is basketball centric.
23:35We got Major League Baseball.
23:36The excitement is overflowing.
23:38It's not any right side.
23:39It's Joe Raniere.
23:40It's a Thursday morning.
23:41It's a sports grid network.
23:43Keep it tuned right here.
23:45Let's flip it over to the Sweet 16 tonight.
23:47And maybe one of the games of the night that you can't miss.
23:49It's Illinois and it's Houston.
23:50If we take a look at the predicted marketplace right now, Houston currently trading.
23:54That's a 57% chance to win this game.
23:56Illinois at 43%.
23:58If we look at the spread in this one, Houston by two and a half.
24:01Currently trading, Joe, at 51% as a chance that Houston gets that cover.
24:05Illinois, Houston, barn burner.
24:07Home team?
24:08Looks like it's Houston tonight.
24:10Well, I'll tell you another market you can look at here, Donnie.
24:13I've already told you I'm on Houston here tonight.
24:16I like them.
24:18I think the home crowd, I think the coaching edge is real.
24:23Two different styles, though.
24:25One is going to want to do it by being extremely physical.
24:28The other is going to do it from being able to shoot lights out.
24:32Something has got to give in this game.
24:34But I'll tell you what, you've got to look at maybe the championship market as well here, Donnie.
24:41Because if you like Houston, then you better bet Houston now on the championship market.
24:47Because if they win this game, that price that you can get right now is going to be totally different
24:53by the time you wake up tomorrow morning.
24:55And same thing, Donnie, I would say with Illinois.
24:57If you think Illinois is live here, well, then I can promise you they're the market for champion.
25:05Yeah, Illinois might be worth a look-see in that market as well.
25:10But I still think Houston wins this game outright.
25:13Unbelievable matchup, too, as we pointed out on the early line.
25:16Illinois, the number two overall team in efficiency on offense going up against number four defense in Houston here.
25:21Should be fun to watch.
25:22In H-Town tonight, Iowa taking on Nebraska.
25:25Another game tonight in the Sweet 16, currently trading Nebraska to win this game outright, a 53% chance.
25:31Iowa, 47%.
25:33If we include the spread, Nebraska to win by 2.5 points or more, that's currently trading at 46 cents
25:38right now.
25:39Joe, Houston, if you wagered a $100 bet that Nebraska wins by three or more points tonight,
25:43it's plus money in your pocket because you will get returned $218.
25:49Yeah, I got to tell you, it is going to be raining threes here tonight.
25:53Nobody takes a bigger percentage of their shots from three than Nebraska does in this one here.
26:00The problem is, honey, if they don't make them, well, that's a problem because they don't get a ton of
26:05points at the rim,
26:08which means that if you think Iowa's got a shot, and I do, I think Iowa's very much live in
26:13this game here tonight,
26:14I am fading the team total for Nebraska.
26:18I think this is going to be a rock fight.
26:20I think the first one to 65 is going to win, and I would look at Nebraska's team total as
26:25the favorite and say,
26:26yeah, you'd be lucky to get to 60, Donnie.
26:309.45 p.m. tonight.
26:31We just talked about this here on the early line out in San Jose, the SAP Center.
26:36That's Arkansas and Arizona.
26:37You want points.
26:38You're going to get them tonight.
26:38But also, some flat trading across the marketplace so far, Joe, 76% as a chance for Arizona to win
26:44this game outright.
26:45It's been that way for a while.
26:46Cal sheet, which Arkansas is 24%.
26:48Throughout the day, this is probably going to change.
26:51But if we are looking at the spread lines here, Arizona win by 8.5, currently trading, Joe, at 47
26:56cents,
26:57which means if you think Arizona wins by 9-plus points tonight, that means an investment return of $213.
27:04But also understand this, there are ways to use that, Joe, and I always say, you can use the slider.
27:09Do you think Arizona wins in a blowout?
27:10Well, maybe pump it up there, Joe, to 11.5 points that they can absolutely win this game by.
27:15A $100 investment would pay back 271.
27:17Or if you say, you know what, give me a couple extra points here.
27:20I'll take the underdog in Arkansas with the 11.5.
27:22Then you can take that at 65% as a chance, Joe.
27:25And that pays back $154.
27:28A lot of options here on the prediction markets.
27:30But tonight, Arkansas-Arizona should be fantastic.
27:34And listen, if you like Arizona, but, you know, hey, backdoor could be up in the way Arkansas has been
27:41rattling off wins
27:42and the way they've been playing, then look at the Arizona team total, Donnie.
27:4788.5, 87.5, somewhere in that ballpark there.
27:51I mean, teams have had no problem scoring well into the 80s, you know, on a regular basis here,
27:57especially when they take on, you know, Arkansas's defense, which isn't exactly great here.
28:04So, yeah, I think if you're scared off at a 7.5, look at the team total over for Arizona.
28:11Also, Joe says we're expecting points in this game, and he could be correct.
28:15Why not use that slider, Joe?
28:16Take it up from 166.5 just to 169.5.
28:19That's a mere four points difference.
28:21How about this, Joe?
28:22Invest $100 in an inflated line.
28:24You get back $244 plus money in your back pocket.
28:28And you could do the same thing.
28:29Hey, I think that 166.5 is a lot.
28:32Let me slide it down to 163.5 and take the under for that plus money wager.
28:36It works both ways, Joe.
28:38Use these tools to your advantage.
28:41Yes, absolutely do.
28:43And Arizona's not a big three-point shooting team, Donnie.
28:47Remember that Arkansas is going to take a bunch from three,
28:51and three is eventually more than two, and we know that, I think.
28:55Love to see it here.
28:56Fun time setting the Sweet 16.
28:57We're going to also preview some of those games coming back on Friday as well.
29:01Prediction Markets right here on the early line, people.
29:05Come on back.
29:07Prediction Markets edge right here on the early line.
29:10Having some fun, Joe.
29:11Sweet 16 action, which rolls into Elite Eight action.
29:13But also understand this too, Joe.
29:15We have the men's competition and also the women's competition,
29:19both live on the predictive markets.
29:21How about that?
29:28What's there to talk about?
29:30Just give them the trophy and watch everyone else cry
29:33because they have to play them in their bracket.
29:35It seems to be a trend these days.
29:37No, it is certainly a trend these days at this point.
29:39By the way, I was just taking a little sneak peek here at Michigan State and UConn.
29:42I'm kind of confused by the trading, Joe, because I'm always with you.
29:45It feels like UConn should be a heavy favorite by like 20 plus points every game,
29:49but apparently not the case right now.
29:51But we do want to start with St. John's and Duke,
29:53which again, it's not going to take place today.
29:55That is tomorrow, but that is a massive matchup.
29:58A ratings absolute bonanza.
30:00And if we're looking at the trading markets right now,
30:02Duke currently trading at a 71% chance to win that outright in St. John's, only 29%.
30:08Joe, answer me a question on this one here.
30:10Should it be that much of a disparity?
30:14Yes, it should.
30:15I mean, I think Duke is eventually going to pull away in this game, Donnie,
30:19and it's for one reason and one reason only.
30:21They are the much better and more efficient offense.
30:25I think Duke is a little underrated defensively.
30:28But listen, if we learned anything about the Johnnies,
30:31we know they're going to want to get inside the paint.
30:34They're going to want to bully you around a little bit
30:37because while they don't have a choice offensively, they are atrocious.
30:42Watching my eyeballs hurt watching them play basketball against Kansas the other day.
30:47So hopefully we'll get a little better basketball here,
30:51but I think ultimately we're going to get the better offensive basketball from Duke,
30:57which is why they're going to be able to not only win, but likely cover this game.
31:01Let's bring in the coach James Young here because that is a massive game,
31:04a lot of fun here, and a favorite for the Duke Blue Devils.
31:06But coach knows the Johnnies here.
31:08They're going to put up a fight.
31:10It's going to be fantastic to watch it play out.
31:12Duke and St. John's, coach.
31:13How are we feeling about that game tomorrow?
31:16Oh, it's going to be fireworks down in D.C.
31:18And I'll tell you this right now, folks.
31:20If you're expecting an offensive juggernaut slug 90-85 type of game,
31:26this is not the game for you.
31:28Rick Pitino is going to try and drag Duke to the deep end of the pool.
31:33And John Shire's team is very comfortable.
31:35So if you look at the predictive markets, you know, if I'm going to invest,
31:38I'm going to invest in this game going under the number.
31:41I think St. John's is going to try and play this game extremely close to the best
31:44and try and win it on the defensive end.
31:46Also, Joe made a good point.
31:48They do struggle mightily offensively.
31:50Now, remember, since the lowest, the last team shoot under 34%
31:55from the three-point line in the NCAA tournament and overall season and win
31:59was Louisville, coached by Rick Pitino.
32:04There's a recipe here.
32:05So to me, in that predictive market, I would invest on the game going under the number
32:10because I think you believe in defensive efficiency,
32:13according to Ketpov, invest in under in this matchup between these two teams.
32:20Yeah, well, I mean, let's face it, coach.
32:22It might be ugly, but we're going to wake up and have a good time with it here.
32:26I got to ask you, though, and I've asked a couple of guys.
32:31I think there is a live dog somewhere in this Sweet 16.
32:35And call me crazy, I think that live dog might be Alabama here.
32:40Whoa.
32:42Well, listen, if you really want to dig in and get in deep,
32:45it's almost like the Aiden Holloway thing by Nate Oates kind of getting them
32:50off the roster.
32:51I think it opened this team up.
32:52Now do you have two point guards sharing the ball?
32:55And let me tell you something.
32:56If there is an Achilles weakness to Michigan, it is the guard play.
33:01You got to depend on guys like LA Canoe.
33:03They're dealing with injuries.
33:04And LeBaron Phylon is a walking bucket.
33:08So when you start looking at the predictive markets,
33:10if you're looking to invest in an underdog to maybe steal it,
33:15I think this is the one you look at.
33:17I'm not going to count Nebraska-Iowa guys because it's so close right now
33:22with the movement of the line.
33:24So you're not really getting that much of a money on it.
33:28So I think if there's a team to look at,
33:30I think that's the one to look at is Alabama because their ability to score,
33:35guys will keep them in the game.
33:38And they do have the best guard in the matchup between the two teams.
33:43It's interesting to watch it play out too, Coach,
33:45because you have these two teams, you know,
33:46juggernauts on offense with Michigan, second leading scorer out for Alabama.
33:50By the way,
33:50do we have any news on if we're getting any players back from suspension,
33:54not traveling with the team?
33:55Is there a chance that we could have a reunion in Alabama,
33:59even if we had a couple pounds of weed on the side here, Coach?
34:01I mean, I mean, listen, that would be an interesting way to kind of go about it.
34:07I wouldn't expect Aiden Holloway to do it.
34:09And I'll be honest with you, if I made oats, even if I have a chance,
34:12we're playing well right now.
34:14Like, do you even want that distraction coming back into the locker room
34:18with all the questions?
34:19Even if I could bring him back as a coach, I can't.
34:22We've moved on.
34:23We got to play the way we're playing,
34:25and especially the way they look against Texas Tech.
34:27I mean, listen, Graham McCaslin's team does not give up 90 points.
34:30And they don't lose by 25.
34:33So that's something to be of note.
34:35They're looking really good offensively, Alabama.
34:40Yeah.
34:41Well, how about, of course, nobody better in March Madness than Izzo, Coach, right?
34:48Yes, sir.
34:49But is Izzo getting it done against Hurley,
34:51who's had a pretty good run himself here lately?
34:55I think it's a fascinating matchup.
34:57And you talked about a rock fight with Duke and the Johnnies.
35:01What are we getting in this one?
35:04I mean, this is going to be outstanding.
35:07By the way, shout out to the UConn and St. John's fans.
35:10There's rumors going around in the area
35:11that they're going to descend upon D.C.
35:14And ready for this?
35:16Cheer for each other to try and turn it into Big East South.
35:19The only problem is any Georgetown fans are probably going to be rooting
35:22for Michigan State and for Duke.
35:24But when you look at this matchup, listen,
35:27you have two teams' experience, guys that have been around the block.
35:31But to me, I look at the better team being UConn.
35:35I think you look at down low.
35:37Terrence Reed Jr., when he stays out of foul trouble,
35:39is an absolute load.
35:42I mean, he was the only one that showed up against St. John's
35:44when they played in the Big East final.
35:46And I think that's where the matchup advantage is.
35:49Is Terrence Reed Jr. versus Jackson Kohler look to invest
35:52in, obviously, UConn to win and cover?
35:56I think they can put this game away and win by double digits.
36:00Coach, quickly on Tennessee and Iowa State.
36:02We always talk about, you know, players that might be coming back to the team.
36:04Joshua Jefferson's injury injured that ankle.
36:07They look fantastic.
36:08Talking about Iowa State.
36:09They're the favorites here.
36:10A chance we get him back in the senior Elite Eight.
36:13Well, that would be good.
36:14That would be big for them.
36:15But, you know, Rick Barnes has been around the block.
36:17And he can't get to a Final Four.
36:19This could be the best chance without Joshua Jefferson.
36:21They have big men playing.
36:23They have Jacoby Gillespie.
36:24Buckle up.
36:25Great game between these two teams.
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