My Prediction For The Top 10 Picks During The NCAA Basketball Season. Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

My prediction for the top 10 picks during the NCAA basketball season.

Before I begin, I might suggest that you keep the following rules in mind:
1)  Talent Evaluation
The number one thing I focus on early in the season is talent evaluation.  Finding out early on which teams are overrated and underrated is key to successful early season wagering.  Team chemistry, motivation/work ethic, progression of returning players, and impact of newcomers are all items to keep close tabs on.
2)  Coaching
Get to know your coaches.  There are 43 teams on the regular betting rotation that have first year head coaches in 2007.  New coaches generally mean new systems!
3)  Home Court Advantage
Home advantage is always critical in college sports, but even more so in the early stages of a basketball season.
4)  Line Value
With so many teams there is no better time of the year to find "soft" lines than in early season college basketball.  Always use sportsbooks that post college basketball lines early and that offer totals on all NCAA games.  The lines will move so always place wagers as early as possible.  Use multiple sportsbooks to shop for the best numbers.  Every half point counts!  Finding the best numbers can be the difference between a winning season and a losing one. 
5)  Conference Focus/Local Teams
It can be a good idea to focus on 1-3 conferences that you already have some familiarity with.  Local radio, TV, and newspaper coverage can make it much easier to follow the happenings of teams in your area.  The better "feel" you have for a team the better you can identify favorable matchups, measure the impact of injuries, and be aware of any special motivational circumstances.
6)  Keep an eye on travel schedules

I'm ready now to place a bet on the NCAA

Ok.  Now that I've given you a few rules to follow for a winning betting season, my top teams for the 2007-2008 NCAA basketball season are:

10. MARQUETTE

Marquette brings back everyone from an NCAA team that won 24 games last season. The biggest obstacle for Marquette may be timing. They are in the Big East, a conference that features two heavyweights in Louisville and Georgetown that could keep them out of the top ten. But they shouldn't fall far.  Now that Dominic James has (wisely) returned to school these odds are enticing. The Golden Flashes may have the best three-guard offense in the nation but the season will be determined by the development of another trio - forwards Ousmane Barro, Dan Fitzgerald and Lazar Hayward.  Marquette, I feel, could rise to an NCAA Final Four caliber team.

9. WASHINGTON STATE

Maybe the best news for Washington State is that Tony Bennett returns as coach. This team has an experienced senior back court, and that is a key come tourney time. This is a very experienced team that now has tourney experience and should once again be a force in the Pac-10, as well as the national scene.

8. GEORGETOWN

It may take the Hoyas a little time to overcome the departure of last season's Big East Player of the Year, Jeff Green. However, this is a very well coached team that is always disciplined on both offense and defense.  But don't feel too sorry for the Hoyas. They return a wealth of talent and a couple of heralded frosh that will have them back in the picture once again. I expect that the Hoyas will likely appear to duplicate a 30-win team from a year ago and be in the hunt for the Championship.

7. MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans won 23 games last season and return all five starters and should be poised to break into the top 10 this season.  Coach Izzo has also recruited in a cast of talented freshman in Durrell Summers, Kallin Lucas and Chris Allen. Coach Izzo has said that with the added depth and quickness, he wants to get back to a pressure defense and run a lot more. If one or more of these freshman emerge as a heavy contributor, the Spartins will have to be dealt with in April.

6. LOUISVILLE

Rick Pitino has assembled another talented team that lacked experience a year ago, and lost in the second round to a talented and experienced A&M team. This year Louisville will be one of the teams with both talent and experience.  This team, if they stay healthy, will challenge for a spot in the Final Four.

I'm ready now to place a bet on the NCAA

5. TENNESSEE - A Best Bet Team

The Vols have lost just one player that made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago and look like the darlings of the SEC this season.  The Vols are led by Chris Lofton, who on any given night can be the difference in a game. He's not afraid to put the team on his back and make a big shot.  This should be an explosive, quick team that will score in the 80s. The Vols could be vulnerable to a bigger team, but what they lack in that type of a game, they provide a problem for as well, as this team is going to run, run, run. The Vols will be a factor come tourney time.

4. KANSAS - A Best Bet Team

The Jayhawks were an impressive 33-5 last season, and that was without a senior. Julian Wright is the only loss so they will return 13 of 14 of their top players.  This Kansas team has plenty of talent to make a run in the final four. They will bring back 85%+ of their scoring and 80%+ of their rebounding from a year ago. A team that was full of inexperience last year will ride the wave of experience this season to be even better.  This team has win-it-all potential.

3. MEMPHIS - A Best Bet Team

The Tigers have been on the cusp for two consecutive seasons, but have come up just short in the Regional Finals. They are the best team in the country right now, and a coach,John Calipari, that can recruit and coach. The Tigers have the inside presence of Joey Dorsey who can score, rebound and block shots. Chris Douglass-Roberts is an emerging star.  This should be a 30-win team and a viable Final Four team.

2. NORTH CAROLINA - A Best Bet Team

Last year's team was young but still managed to come within one shot of the Final Four. The biggest news came when Tyler Hansbrough shunned the NBA draft, and chose to return. The Heels will have the top center and the top PG in the ACC as Ty Lawson, last year's top assist man in the ACC, also returns. The Heels are a deep team and don't have to worry about fitting in new pieces, as Coach Williams did not sign a single player this season.  We expect Wayne Ellington, a sophomore, to become a big-time scorer. All the pieces are in place to challenge for a Championship.

1. UCLA - A Best Bet Team and my #1 pick even though I'm from Los Angeles!

The Bruins have retained six guys that have been on the bench and/or floor of the last two Final Fours. They are loaded with talent with a nice blend of youth and experience. The Bruins return seven of their top eight scorers and and Florida has sent their entire starting lineup to the NBA. In addition, the Pac-10 is much improved, so the Bruins will stay sharp with lots of tests through the season, and I pick them to cut down the nets in April.

I want to place a bet on the NCAA now!