Still Suffering From A Tarheel “Hangover”
As the 2008/2009 college hoop season quietly begins and my mailbox fills up with magazines and newsletters full of Final Four predictions I can’t help but still feel the pain of last April’s collapse by North Carolina. At the time I was vacationing in Maui and owned a nice ticket on the Heels to win the March Madness at 6 to1. My wife got us an early check-in at a beautiful ocean front condo because she knew I was looking forward to watching Dean Smith’s crew eliminate Kansas on their way to Monday night’s championship game. What could be better? Paradise and holding a nice futures ticket on the best team in college basketball. Well it only took about twenty minutes to ruin my day. Kansas opened a commanding lead in the first ten minutes and UNC spent the rest of the afternoon trying to play catch up and in the end the Jayhawks sent Carolina to the sidelines. In disbelief I couldn’t tear up my losing ticket until I returned to the mainland. The hangover from that game reminds me of the days when I used to go down to Hussongs in Ensenada, Mexico and drink shots of cheap tequilla with my friends. That awful taste took days to leave your palate and here I am seven months later not only still stinging from that loss but everyone including Dickie V, Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine is picking the Tar Heels to walk away with this year’s championship. The problem is according to my personal sports betting commandments I cannot and I will not be wagering on them this year. The reason I will be passing is that they are the 2 to 1 favorites and I will be tossing the Kansas Jayhawks at 25 to 1 as well because THEY are the defending champions. I thought I would take a look at some teams worth watching and share with you their current odds at www.BoDoglife.com
U Conn 10 to 1
Coach Jim Calhoun has been battling skin cancer all summer but his preparation has not skipped a beat and with three returning senior starters including point guard A J Price I will be watching this squad early on and their trip to Seattle on December 20th to take on Gonzaga will be a must see game for this handicapper.
Louisville 12 to 1
Head man Rick Pitino had to know he is living right when forward Earl Clark declared for the NBA draft after last season only to change his mind and return for his junior year at Louisville. The Cardinals fell one game short of last year’s Final Four losing to North Carolina by only ten points. The rugged regular season schedule they will face in the Big East will prepare them well for March Madness and I am a big fan of Coach Pitino. January 4th game versus Kentucky will be a good gauge of their abilities.
Michigan State 15 to 1
Coach Tom Izzo’s squad went 27-9 last year and reached the sweet sixteen and with dynamite sophomore guard Kalin Lucas being one of five of last year’s top six scorers returning there is reason to believe that they have a very good chance to travel down the road to Ford Field in Detroit next April. The same Ford Field that will house the Spartans-Tar Heels matchup on December 3rd as well the 2009 Final Four. Izzo is another favorite of mine.
UCLA 9 to 1
How can you talk about a future champion and not include this team. Coach Ben Howland has proven to be everything Athletic Director Dan Guerrero was looking for when he lured him west back in 2003. Name another team that has reached the Final Four the last three years. That’s right there are none. After losing Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute to the NBA draft one would think this is a rebuilding year for Howland and the Bruins but not only can Ben coach he can also do a little recruiting. The UCLA recruiting class was ranked number one in the nation and I look for returning point guard Darren Collison and Coach Howland to turn the “newbies” including 2008 Gatorade Player of the year Jrue Holiday into a cohesive unit more sooner than later. They definitely will improve as the season moves along and it’s only a matter of time before Howland and company return to Brentwood with another championship trophy.
No matter what, you can bet I will be down on some squad at 5 to 1 odds or better to win March Madness. What’s that saying about curing a hangover? Something about “the hair of the dog that bit you”. Thanks for listening and let’s chat next Friday.
Stat of the Day: 7 of the last 9 (78%) Championship teams have had a head coach that has been at the school for ten years or more.