Thursday NCAA Tournament Odds, Picks, and Predictions

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: First-round matchups at the Big Dance shoe dazzle dominate the sports scene, with UConn, Memphis, UNC, and Duke all in action. The must read links for March Madness betting are here.  Most importantly, get the objective rundown of which professional sports handicappers are hot and who has the big plays for NCAA picks and predictions.

The search for Cinderella . . .

All sources claim that North Carolina will be without point guard Ty Lawson, but Lines-Maker.com will update any late breaking information.

North Carolina is one of two top seeds in action at the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, as they'll see how badly they're able to beat No. 16 Radford in an afternoon contest. The Tar Heels are 26-point favorites in that South Region matchup. Other South games on tap for Thursday: No. 9 Butler vs. No. 8 LSU (-2.5), No. 10 Michigan vs. No. 7 Clemson (-5.5), No. 13 Akron vs. No. 4 Gonzaga (-12.5), No. 15 Morgan State vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (-16.5), and No. 12 Western Kentucky vs. No. 5 Illinois (-4.5). The Hilltoppers won their opening game in '08.

The other No. 1 in action on Thursday is Connecticut, which will take on Chattanooga as a 20.5-point favorite in West Region action. Also in that quarter of the bracket on Thursday: No. 15 CSU Northridge vs. No. 2 Memphis (-19.5), No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 BYU (-2), No. 12 Northern Iowa vs. No. 5 Purdue (-8), No. 10 Maryland vs. No. 7 California (-1), and No. 13 Mississippi State vs. No. 4 Washington (-5.5). Mississippi State won the SEC Tournament last weekend.

Four East Region games round out the Thursday Madness schedule, with that slate highlighted by No. 2 Duke taking on No. 15 Binghamton. The Blue Devils have been pegged as big 21.5-point favorites. As well, it'll be No. 10 Minnesota vs. No. 7 Texas (-4), No. 14 American vs. No. 3 Villanova (-16.5), and No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 UCLA (-7). The Bruins were upset last week in the Pac-10 tourney.

Major sports service winning March Madness picks…

Revolutionary and futuristic pro gambler Stevie Vincent is celebrating three years of his picks being public.

NCAA Tournament betting is the time of the year that so many new clients get their first exposure to forensic sports handicapping. For newbies, welcome to the world of winners, but we want to explain the basis. Stevie releases fewer plays but has more winners.

To sell picks, more picks means more sales. Stevie wants to win picks and let everything else fall into place. He releases only picks he bets.

That's why he has "only" four NCAAB plays including three of his highest rated Level 5. He has since added a PERFECT PLAY from the NIT and two pro basketball. He goes 7-0 Click now to purchase  Stevies entire card for $40.

Let Jeff Buckley enter the ring of fire, you need the professional bettors who will tell you "I told you so" when the NCAA Tournament scores come in.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

The NBA has just three matchups on its schedule for Thursday night as the basketball world focuses on the college game. Starting things off is Dallas at Atlanta at 7:00pm ET, with the Mavericks coming off a 103-101 win over the Pistons on Tuesday night. LeBron James and the Cavaliers then play host to the Trail Blazers in an 8:00pm ET matchup, while Kobe Bryant and the Lakers get a visit from the Warriors at 10:30pm ET. Los Angeles was beaten 94-93 by the Sixers in their last outing Tuesday night, with Bryant being held to just 11 points.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

The Sharks will be looking to bounce back from a loss to the lowly Coyotes on Thursday night when they take on the Predators in one of eight games on the NHL schedule. Also on the slate: Los Angeles at Boston, Montreal at Ottawa, Washington at Tampa Bay, Toronto at Florida, Edmonton at Colorado, and St. Louis at Vancouver, while Phoenix returns to the ice at home against the Ducks.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Finally, the second round of the World Baseball Classic concludes on Thursday night with Korea taking on the winner of Wednesday night's late matchup between Japan and Cuba at San Diego's PETCO Park. Whoever comes out on top in that contest on Thursday will claim top spot in Pool 1. The semifinals of the tournament will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and the World Baseball Classic champion will be decided on March 23.