The Crew faltered once again last Saturday, going against some pretty significant trends outlined in the last Playhouse in picking Florida. Still, if the Gators hold onto to an 11-point lead with under ten minutes left, we're not crying poverty this morning.
We did, however, make a little back on MLB's opening series in Japan, relying on the brilliance of Felix Hernandez (-130) in Game 1 and then the collective ineptitude of the Seattle and Oakland offenses (under 8.5) in Game 2.
If those two games are any indication, any time there's an 8 or 8.5 posted, it's almost an automatic under play. Naturally, there won't be a lot of those over the course of the season, so keep an eye out. We half expect, in fact, to see a some 5.5s this year on days with Hernandez on the mound.
Couple thoughts/stats before the Super Play of the Day...
Former Washington St quarterback Ryan Leaf, who famously flamed out after being the second selection the 1998 NFL Draft behind Peyton Manning, was arrested Friday on drug possession and burgarly charges.
It's not the first time, of course, Leaf has been in trouble, having pled guilty to eight felony drug charges in 2010, resulting in 10-years probation.
Leaf seems like a good enough guy, recently becoming more introspective and self aware after years of brooding, impish behavior. He publicly admitted his problems with drugs, resolved to get clean, and by all outward appearances seemed to be on the right track.
He also surgery to remove a benign tumor in his brain last year, which forced him to go through a round of radiation treatments.
Suffice to say, dude has been through a lot, much of it obviously self-inflicted. Still, The Playhouse has always been a sucker for those who overcome their own demons, regardless of the source. Here's hoping he's able to get over this...
We have egg on our face this week after legendary Ohio coach John Groce left the Bobcats to take the same position with Illinois, which, as Seth Davis so astutely pointed out recently, is one of the ten best jobs in the country.
In getting such an accomplished coach, one with three years of experience in the vaunted MAC, represents a major coup for Illinois. As everyone knows, guys from mid majors who parlay deep runs in the tournament into more money at a bigger school always win big.
Just ask Darrin Horn, who flamed out following four dreadful years at South Carolina after being the hot candidate in 2008, when he made a run with Western Kentucky. Or Stan Heath, who was a total tank at Arkansas after taking Kent St to the Sweet Sixteen in 2002. The list goes on and on.
All of which misses the point, though, so we digress, because we are being insolent. Groce might be a wonderful guy and may even turn out to be a great coach. But Illinois hiring such a nondescript candidate proves once again that Seth Davis has no idea what he's talking about...
Heading into the Final Four it seems clear it's Kentucky's national championship to lose, with some saying they have perhaps four lottery picks on their roster, including the no. 1 overall pick in Anthony Davis. They certainly looked the part Sunday, when they toyed with Baylor, a team with considerable NBA talent themselves.
Saying, however, that Kentucky could beat an NBA team, specifically the Bobcats or Wizards, is like arguing The Godfather would have been just as good with Don Knotts playing the role of Vito Corleone.
As Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told the AP this week, "I mean, people will say, ‘Oh, Kentucky you know’s got four NBA players.’ Yeah, well the other team’s got 13."
If Van Gundy's word is not enough, the boys at Basketball Prospectus weighed in, telling Wagerminds.com that Kentucky, based on projections, would win 1.6 games over the course of a 66-game season.
So, 'could' they beat an NBA team? Sure, anything could happen. But the notion that they'd be competitive over the long haul is laughably absurd...
Speaking of Kentucky, here's an amazing state via Covers.com: From November 11 to January 14, the Wildcats went 1-13-1 ATS...
ESPN college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb told a Manhattan, KS newspaper this week that he has interest in the K-State coaching vacancy. Gottlieb, a former point guard at Oklahoma St, has no coaching experience, even as an assistant.
His brother, however, is an assistant for Mike Montgomery at Cal, and Gottlieb does have a radio show, so he's practically over qualified at this point to take over a DI program. The Playhouse's sources tell us he's a virtual lock...
Super Play of the Day
Ohio St -2.5
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