All the Penguins could do when game one of its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Philadelphia Flyers was over was look at each other and wonder what happened. When game one started in Pittsburgh, the Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. It was just as everyone had expected. The Penguins’ offense was too fast for the slower Philadelphiadefense, and Flyers’ goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was not the playoff answer the Flyers were hoping for. The sports betting crowd was looking at a rout by a Pittsburgh team that is expected to be the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season by a wide margin. Then things started to change.

The second period ended with Pittsburghholding confidently on to a 3-1 lead. But it was becoming apparent that the physical play of the Flyers was wearing the Penguins down. The only thing these two teams like about each other is hitting each other. The Penguins do not back down from physical play, but the Flyers were relentless. The price per head sports experts also noticed that Bryzgalov was sharp in the net. By the time the third period was over, the Penguins had allowed the Flyers to tie the game 3-3. In overtime, the Flyers won the game on a goal by Jakub Voracek. This sets up a very interesting game two.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have endured all manner of challenges when it comes to the playoffs in the past few years.Pittsburghhas watched its Stanley Cup winning goaltender crumble in the playoffs and the team has had to endure injuries to both its key players in previous playoff years. This year was supposed to be different, but it is starting to look the same. The Penguins are healthy heading into these playoffs, but goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury looks shaky again. The Penguins do not seem able to sustain its own momentum. But, let us keep in mind that this was only game one of what will be a very long series.

Philadelphia Flyers

A sportsbook review of the Flyers’ season can pinpoint exactly where troubles started to set in. When goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov refused to play in the Winter Classic because he said it was too cold, everyone wondered what would happen next. The scene of Bryzgalov sitting on the bench, covered in a blanket and drinking tea just screamed of a prima donna. But the team worked past it and is now competing in the playoffs. But the Flyers gave it everything they had in game one and had to go to overtime to win. We have yet to see everything that the Penguins can offer to win games in the playoffs.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins are too talented to lose both opening games of this playoff series at home. NHL fans all over the world are expecting the Penguins to emerge as the Eastern Conference champion. To do that,Pittsburgh will need to get back on track in this series.

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

In the last week, Cleveland has locked up franchise shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and franchise catcher Carlos Santana to long – term contracts. Along with pitchers Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez, Cabrera and Santana make up the core of this ball club. With the addition of an extra wild card in each league, the Indians are seen as one of many teams, with a new lease on life. Along with bookie software favorites such as Texas, Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay, the Cleveland Indians truly believe they have what it takes to make the post season.

On paper, the Cleveland Indians are essentially the AL Central version of the Tampa Bay Rays. In other words, they have one of the best pitching rotations and bullpen’s in all of baseball, but on the surface have a ton of question marks surrounding offense. For example, after Cabrera and Santana, who else is going to produce runs? As it stands right now, Shelly Duncan, Jack Hannahan, Travis Hafner and Casey Kotchman are all coming off okay years. However, for sportsbook review sites to truly believe in the Indians at least three of the four players need to hit 20 home runs and drive in at least 60 runs each.

A more important issue is the lack of depth the Indians have this season compared to last year. As you may recall, part of the reason that the Indians dropped off is because several players were battling injuries. When the injury bug spread throughout the team, they quickly fell apart. Yet, with that being said, having outfielder Shin-Soo Choo healthy for an entire season will be absolutely pivotal. Choo has seemingly been the anchor for any success the Indians have had throughout his tenure, as when he is performing well, so too is the rest of the team.

By all accounts, in order for the Cleveland Indians to have success, comparable to the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008 and the Toronto Blue Jays, they need to win a minimum of 92 games this season. It is hard enough for the heavyweights of the American League to win 90 games let alone 92. In other words, asking the MLB underdog Indians to win 92 or more games, may be asking too much. Despite having good pieces in place, the Tribe, needs a couple of more years to gel, before they can truly contend.

In the ever daunting American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees appear to be worlds apart. Where the Yankees are always in the mix for a playoff appearance and even a World Series berth, the Blue Jays haven’t played meaningful baseball in September in nearly 20 years! However, over the last few seasons, the Blue Jays have quietly put together one of the best minor league systems, to compliment a young core. With the Yankees getting older, the next couple of years should be when the Blue Jays increase their bookie software value, as they finally return to the playoff picture and perhaps the World Series.

You can make the argument, that the Blue Jays would have already made it to the playoffs, if the MLB did the polite thing and moved Toronto to a different division. Over the last three seasons, Toronto’s Achilles heel, has been their record against their own division, in particular the big three of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. According to colleagues Sports Illustrated, if the Blue Jays want to make the extra wild card, let alone the playoffs, they have to improve their record against the big three. Toronto has gone a ridiculous 87 – 129 against the big three while going 240 – 192 against the rest of the American League!

But why does Toronto struggle against the big three but find so much success against everyone else? In our opinion, it’s a matter of confidence and consistency. Essentially, as has been well documented in sportsbook reviews, the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays operate as if every game from the start of April to the end of October is a playoff game. In fact, all three teams operate on the premise that they have to win the World Series or their season is a bust. With Toronto, they seem to play with this mentality against the rest of the league, but play as if they are a class below their divisional rivals when they take them on. In order to get over the hump, Toronto needs to play with the same mentality as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, that a playoff appearance isn’t good enough, that the World Series is the be all end all. If Toronto can adopt this mentality, they should be able to qualify for the playoffs in the next couple of years.

For all intents and purposes, the Kentucky Wildcats remain the odds on favorite to win this year’s March Madness Tournament, with odds of four to two. After entering the tournament as the top seed in the entire nation, Kentucky has basically been on cruise control up until their interstate showdown with the Louisville Cardinals. While the bookie software sites are expecting Kentucky to decimate Louisville, you can bet that the Wildcats themselves, will be expecting a tough battle. The line is currently set at eight and a half points, but considering that Louisville has a knack for stepping up their game as an underdog, taking the under would be a wise move.

Looking at how they got there, the Louisville Cardinals made life hard on themselves in the round of 64 and round of 32, by having a difficult time putting away Davidson, and then New Mexico. Then in the Sweet 16, things got surprisingly easier, as the Cardinals demolished the Michigan State Spartans, by 13. This past weekend, Louisville shocked the sportsbook reviews world, as they came from behind to knock off the Florida Gators. Now they must face a Kentucky squad, who’s closest game in the tournament, was this past weekend, when they won by 12 against Baylor. Pick: Kentucky Wildcats.

In the other semifinal, Ohio State will take on Kansas in a thrilling affair. The Buckeyes are led by reigning Big 10 player of the year Jared Sullinger. While Sullinger is the foundation for the Buckeyes frontcourt, the true MVP of the team, is Aaron Craft, who has set a few records this tournament. One could make the argument, that now that Kendall Marshall and the North Carolina Tar Heels have been eliminated, Craft becomes the top guard in the upcoming NBA draft.

On the other hand, you shouldn’t count out the Kansas Jayhawks at all in this game. The Jayhawks, shocked the world this past weekend, when they destroyed the North Carolina Tar Heels, 80-67. If the Tar Heels weren’t an odds on lock to meet Kentucky in the finals before the tournament, you could have argued that injuries got the best of them as the tournament went on. Nevertheless, the Tar Heels more or less fell flat on their faces, because Harrison Barnes never showed up in this year’s tournament. Looking at Kansas, while Tyshawn Taylor is the straw that stirs their drink, the overall team game has become more obvious in this year’s team. With that in mind, look for Kansas to meet Kentucky in the Finals on Monday, before losing a nail biter.

One of the biggest storylines to kick off the fourth round of the March Madness tournament, is how will the North Carolina Tar Heels overcome adversity? Essentially, after seemingly being on cruise control through their first two games, the Tar Heels have experienced injuries to two major catalysts as they prepare for Ohio later this week. Star forward John Henson sustained a wrist injury in the first game of the tournament, and has not looked the same since. Then to make matters worse, stand out point guard Kendall Marshall suffered a broken wrist in the Tar Heels victory over the Creighton Blue Jays on Sunday. Bookie software agents have adjusted the lines significantly because of Marshall’s injury, moving UNC from the best odds to win March Madness, to the fourth best odds.

Simply put, the bookies and for the most part sharp handicappers do not believe that the Tar Heels are the same team without Kendall Marshall in the lineup. Over his two seasons at North Carolina, Marshall has been looked at, as the glue that keeps the Tar Heels starting five together. Add his injury to the fact that Harrison Barnes has been mediocre the best of times these last few weeks, and you can understand the bookies cause for concern. Furthermore, if Marshall is done for the tournament, then so to will be the drafting stock of the other potential NBA stars on the team.

Another big storyline entering the sweet 16 portion of the tournament is, the burning question of can the NC State Wolfpack continue their climb to the Final Four. Along with many colleagues, we’ve completely disregarded NC State as a Cinderella story in this year’s tournament, given both who they have faced and what conference they come from. NC State plays in the ACC with the aforementioned Tar Heels, meaning that they understand how to battle tough competition. Nevertheless, as an 11^th seed in the tournament, many colleagues are picking the Wolfpack as the lone Cinderella of this year’s tournament. The reason for this stance is due to impressive victories over the San Diego State Aztecs and Georgetown Hoyas, two middle of the pack teams.

In the sweet 16 round, the NC State Wolfpack will put their strong performances on the line, as they collide with the second seeded Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks have often found themselves in the sweet 16, only to find trouble. Head Coach Bill Self has the horses in Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson to finally get over the hump and win the March Madness Tournament. Yet, we do not believe it will be as simple to get by the Wolfpack as our colleagues do. Kansas would be best served to not look past the Wolfpack, as when they have looked past an opponent previously, they have ended up choking.

In one of the strangest occurrences in NCAA history, three of the four teams to be named top seeds for the 2012 March Madness Tournament, failed to win their conference tournaments. The Michigan State Spartans, the West bracket’s top seed, was the only team to win the conference tournament and be named a number one seed, as they narrowly defeated Ohio State. On the other hand, Kentucky and Syracuse the top two teams in the NCAA for the entire season, basically locked up their bookie software position prior to the start of conference championship play. In our opinion, the biggest surprise was placing the North Carolina Tar Heels as the fourth number one seed, over the Missouri Tigers.

For all intents and purposes, the belief amongst fans and analysts alike is that if any top seed goes out early, it will be the Tar Heels. In our view, the dark horse of the tournament will be the Michigan Wolverines. Playing in the Midwest bracket with powerhouses North Carolina and Kansas, the Wolverines should be able to show fans and critics alike, that their blowout defeat at the hands of Ohio State in the Big 10 Conference tournament, was a wash. In other words, Michigan has the potential to get to the Sweet 16 and faceoff with the aforementioned North Carolina. If Michigan can upset North Carolina, it should be a clear road to the Final Four, as Kansas has to go through Georgetown before facing Michigan in the Elite Eight, which is no easy feat.

The rest of our bracket rounds out, so that Kentucky rolls through to the Final Four, while Michigan State also rolls through. One bracket that is being difficult to pick a Final Four representative from is the South. By all accounts, Syracuse like Michigan State is built for a Championship caliber run. Yet, one team standing in their way, are the Florida State Seminoles. After winning the NBA trade deadline ACC Tournament, the Seminoles have an aura of confidence that people have seen from them in quite some time. Add that to the fact they came within a point of going to the Final Four, and you have the makings of a scary team. Final Four will be Kentucky taking on Michigan State, while Michigan takes on Florida State.

Missouri heads in to this weekend one game back of Kansas for top spot, but they have nobody else to blame but themselves for not being tied after dropping a crucial home against the Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday. That loss ended a string of seven straight wins for the Tigers, and in the end it proves that the Wildcats were Missouri’s biggest nemesis as two of their three losses this year came Rodney McGruder and company. The Tigers still have the chance to rebound and finish the year as the top seed in the Big 12 with their final two games against unranked teams in Iowa State and Texas Tech, but the first and most difficult step will be to beat Kansas on the road this Saturday in their final game before the NHL trade deadline day happens on Monday.

The Jayhawks haven’t forgotten about their loss toMissouriearlier this month, a 74-71 defeat at the Mizzou Arena that marked their second in three games after an even tougher loss to the unranked Cyclones a week earlier.Kansashas responded with five straight wins with three of those victories coming via double-digit point totals, and similar to the Tigers’ schedule, Thomas Robinson and company will finish their Big 12 season against two unranked teams inOklahomaStateandTexas. Capturing an eighth straight Big 12 title in one of the toughest conferences in the nation would be a pretty impressive feat, and it could come down to this weekend’s game if Kansas is going to get the job done.

Tightening up on the defensive end of the floor will be the toughest task for the Jayhawks, but it could make the difference between winning and losing. Playing in front of the home fans will provide a more favorable atmosphere than the first meeting between these teams, and if they can defend the three-ball and play good perimeter defense, then on paper they should have the edge as the per head favorite. Marcus Denmon hit two clutch three-balls in the final 2:05 of the fourth quarter that sent the crowd into a frenzy in the first meeting, and the electric atmosphere at the Mizzou certainly contributed to a couple of missed free throws for the Hayhawks down the stretch in the loss. How different will things be inKansas this weekend? Only time will tell as we get ready to tune in to the most highly anticipated matchup of the weekend.

Despite being the same team for the last five seasons under Head Coach Jim Boeheim on the offensive side of the hard court, the Syracuse Orange are a very different team from last year’s on the defensive side of the ball. The current crop of Orange stars, have bought into Boeheim and his staff’s version of the classic approach to defense, the zone defense. Where other coaches love to play man to man, Boeheim loves the zone, as it allows his players to transition quicker to offense and run up the court. As bookie software enthusiasts have noticed this season, Boeheim’s players have quickly adapted to their coach’s ideas, as they own the best record in the nation.

It has been argued by many coaches in both the NCAA and NBA, that zone defenses are the lazy man’s defense. Where man-to-man literally forces each player to pay close attention to detail in covering their opponent, zone offers up the possibility that an opponent can come free from coverage and drive to the hoop. Nevertheless, the two three zone that the Syracuse Orange employ, regardless of both who is on the court and what the score is, has been able to aggravate and confuse their opponents. As the team’s 27 and one record indicates, every player, whether they be the starters or the third string players, has made it their own personal commitment to play better defense. They say defense wins championships, and Boeheim’s scheme appears destined to prove that saying correctly.

What’s interesting to note, and as we mentioned earlier, is that the Syracuse Orange’s major change under Boeheim, has been the institution of the zone defense, as the offense has stayed the same as last year. For example, basically every player who wasn’t a senior a year ago, is back this year, and last season’s team finished the year 27 and eight. This year, the Orange are the second place team in the nation at 27 and one, even though, the program has made major adjustments defensively. This tells us, that the Orange may have received their ranking based on the schedule they have faced, rather then their team’s efficiency. Looking at the team’s efficiency, Syracuse is ranked first in every defensive category. It is this defense that if maintained, should lead to the National title victory in April.

When it comes to using the power rankings for college basketball, the main type of gambler being catered too, is the sharp bettor. The professional bettors, love college basketball for two reasons, not many shops offer lines, and the shops that do actually don’t spend that much time making the lines. In other words, because the bookie software agents are more focused on the big four major sports and not college hoops, sharp bettors make a ton of profit, because they are handicapping on soft lines. The power rankings provide sharps and some casual bettors, with the opportunity to wager on teams, based on mathematical equations that indicate how much better they are then their opponents.

For instance, the top ranked Kentucky Wildcats, have a power rating of 18.60, which is the best number in the NCAA. Essentially, the number indicates, that while the Wildcats are an abysmal 10-14-one against the spread, they are still one of the strongest teams in the entire league. The Wildcats overall record of 25 and one indicates to fans, to handicappers, that the team matches up with their power ranking, instead of their record against the spread. What’s also important to understand, is that while they Wildcats don’t have the nicest record against the spread, they have reeled off six straight wins, in which they’ve covered the spread. Meaning to say, they are improving in all areas.

As we noted above, the NBA NCAAB week 15 power rankings experienced quite a shakeup. The reason for this shakeup was twofold, as the Michigan State Spartans entered the top 10 with a victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Baylor Bears dropped out of the elite five, with a couple of losses. Another major change was the Duke Blue Devils sky rocketing into the big three after a come from behind win over ACC rivals the North Carolina Tar Heels. Duke appeared to be down and out when out of seemingly nowhere, star freshman Austin Rivers nailed a game winning three. The winning basket, eventually translated into the above-mentioned jump to the big three.

On the other hand, North Carolina dropped to seventh in the NCAA power rankings. The Tar Heels 16.40 power ranking is the worst in the top 10, despite rebounding from the choke job with a clobbering of Virginia. Another issue, is that the Tar Heels are 12 – 12 against the spread this season, which in turn has made the team’s 21 and four record somewhat misleading. If North Carolina hopes to win the March Madness Tournament, they’ll have to show that the Duke collapse was a one-time thing.

Florida State is one team that plenty of fans and media alike will be keeping an eye on, as we move closer to March Madness. Last season, the Seminoles top ranked defense paid huge dividends, as it literally carried them throughout the tournament. Last season, the Florida State Seminoles made it to the Sweet 16, before losing by a single point to surprise story of the tournament the VCU Rams. In theory, bookie software handicappers should feel safe laying their money on the Seminoles to return to the March Madness. In fact, depending on which expert you talk too, the Seminoles have a chance to enter the March Madness tournament, as a number one seed.

Essentially, the ACC is wide open this season, as along with FSU, North Carolina, Duke and Virginia all have a shot at winning the ACC tournament. FSU is in an interesting position too, as they do not face North Carolina at all the rest of the year, depending on both the ACC and March Madness tournaments. Meanwhile, FSU has become the thorn in the side of Duke, as no matter the season, they always seem to knock off the Blue Devils.  As it stands right now, FSU is in a three way tie with North Carolina and Duke for the conference lead, as all three teams have a five and one record.

Nevertheless, Virginia seems to be the most intriguing team coming out of the ACC this season, as NBA fans and handicappers alike, feel that the Cavaliers are a dark horse. With an overall record of 17 and three on the season, the Cavaliers appear to be human so far in ACC action, as they sit fourth with a four and two record. Meaning to say, is the 17 and three record a credit to facing a light schedule to start the year, or is Virginia for real? Despite going undefeated in two games this past week, we will get a better idea of who the Cavaliers are after their next two contests. Virginia plays Florida State and then clashes with North Carolina. For the reason that the Cavaliers have suffered two of three losses on the season in the last six weeks, it stands to reason, that the upcoming games with FSU and North Carolina, can make or break the Cavaliers season.