The Big 12 may not have the depth of the Big East or the rivalries of the Big Ten but it still has some serious national title contenders with teams like Kansas, Texas and Kansas State. So the Big 12 Tournament will still get plenty of sports betting action. Let’s take a look at the hopefuls and make a pick.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS (29-2)

Sportsbook odds: -200

It should come as no surprise at all to see the No.2 Kansas Jayhawks favored to win the Big 12 tourney. Bill Self’s boys know how to shoot the lights out. No one does it better. At 51.8 per cent from the field, Kansas is the nation’s top shooting team. It’s no wonder the Jayhawks are also fifth with 82.7 points per game. The Morrises, Marcus and Markieff, both shoot just under 60 per cent. Amazing.

KANSAS STATE (22-9)

Sportsbook odds: +250

Here I was thinking Kansas State would be a sleeper, but the oddsmakers are ahead of the game. The Wildcats couldn’t hide anymore after their outstanding late-season run that included wins over Kansas and Texas (at Texas). Jacob Pullen has been a man on a mission for this team down the stretch. Arguably, no team carries more momentum into the Big 12 tournament.

TEXAS LONGHORNS (25-6)

Sportsbook odds: +350

If it weren’t for Kansas State going crazy over the last month, Texas would’ve been the consensus top challenger to Kansas for the Big 12 crown. After all, the Longhorns beat Kansas earlier this season. You could also argue that Texas has the conference’s best pure scorer in Jordan Hamilton. The Longhorns were popular in college basketball betting circles this year, leading the Big 12 with an 18-8 ATS record.

TEXAS A&M AGGIES (23-7)

Sportsbook odds: +650

Unlike the Big East, in which every team seems to have 20 wins and a shot at the tournament crown, only a handful of Big 12 teams are taken seriously. Texas A&M is probably the last of that group, and even the Aggies are a stretch. They’re a fine defensive squad, ranking 15^th in the nation with 60.4 points allowed per game, but their offense leaves a lot to be desired. Texas A&M also seemed to fall flat on its face every time it matched up against a good Big 12 team, especially away from home. So I wouldn’t waste a bet on the Aggies if I were you.

THE PICK

It’s no coincindence that this preview is shorter than my Big East preview. To me, recommending or even discussing anyone besides the top four teams in the Big 12 would be steering you in the wrong direction. Actually, you shouldn’t get caught picking anyone other than Kansas, Kansas State or Texas.

I like the All-Kansas rivalry to be the deciding factor here. Kansas State is playing the best basketball in the Big 12 right now and Kansas knows how to win better than anyone else. I think that experience (and coaching edge) will be enough to put the Jayhawks over the top…barely.

Today’s free pick: Kansas -250

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Writer Vegas Matty previews Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks from the standpoint of the bettor.

The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers (45-19) started a seven-game winning streak after the All-Star break with a 104-80 rout of the Atlanta Hawks (37-26) at home two weeks ago.  The Lakers (-5.5) will try to remain the hottest team in the league on Tuesday when they visit the Hawks during the second stop of a four-game road trip.

Los Angeles is coming off arguably its biggest statement game of the season on Sunday, ripping San Antonio 99-83 to end a franchise-record 22-game home winning streak for the Spurs.  The Lakers built a monstrous 65-37 halftime lead and cruised from there behind a game-high 26 points from MVP candidate Kobe Bryant while Pau Gasol added 21 points and Andrew Bynum grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds for the second time in a row.

Defense has been the secret to LA’s success during the winning streak, as the team has held opponents to 87 points or less five times, including four straight.  The UNDER has cashed five times over that period in which the Lakers have also gone 5-1 against the spread.

After losing in Los Angeles, Atlanta went 2-2 in the final four games of a seven-game road trip to finish up 3-4.  The Hawks have played their last three games at home, losing the last two after rallying back from a 19-point deficit to beat Chicago 83-80 last Wednesday.  Al Horford scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds against the Bulls but has totaled 19 points and 19 rebounds in losses to Oklahoma City (111-104) and New York (92-79) since then.

Atlanta has had trouble scoring in the last 13 games, breaking the century mark only once during that stretch.  That came in the loss to the Thunder last Friday, which is also the only time the Hawks scored more than 90 in their last five games.  The UNDER is 5-1 in their last six games and 9-2 in their past 11.

The Lakers had failed to cover the spread in the three previous meetings with Atlanta before the latest game between the teams.  They have split the last four meetings straight-up, losing both games in Atlanta and failing to register a victory in their past three trips there.  Bryant has struggled offensively in the last three road games in the series, averaging just 18.7 points on 41.1 percent shooting.  However, Bynum did not play in any of those games.

Top expert pick on today’s card: The Center of the Handicapping Universe GodsTips is now 16-7 the last 23 with five straight winning days. Mr. March has two locks for tonight in college basketball. One is a Wise Guy side, the other a Major. Again, both night games. Click now to purchase

It isn’t quite NCAA Tournament time but, for many NCAA hoops betting fans, the Big East Tournament is the next best thing. It’s virtually peerless among the conference tourneys, with an incredibly deep field and possibility 10 teams out of that conference alone that could make the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament.

The Big East tourney starts Tuesday. Who has the inside track to win it all? Here’s a look at the top contenders and, of course, a betting pick.

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (27-4)

Sportsbook odds: +200

After edging out Notre Dame for the conference title, the Panthers are viewed as the favorite or at least the co-favorite by most sports betting sharps. Pittsburgh gets the job done with outstanding backcourt play from Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker. But the Panthers will need guys like Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee to step up under the basket if they want to hold off the other powerhouses.

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (25-5)

Sportsbook odds: +200

The Irish will be just as popular of a pick as Pittsburgh this year. Ben Hansbrough has matured into a great team leader and Notre Dame is hot, with just one loss in its last 12 games. The win over UConn after Hansbrough fouled out also proved that this isn’t a one-man team.

SYRACUSE ORANGE (+25-6)

Sportsbook odds: +300

Syracuse is a perennial contender in the Big East but does it have the horses to run with the other big boys? Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson are good at what they do – passing and rebounding, respectivley – but Syracuse arguably lacks the gamebreaking scorer that teams like Pittsburgh, Notre dame and UConn have.

ST. JOHN’S RED STORM (20-10)

Sportsbook odds: +650

Sniff around any betting circle and you’ll quickly learn that St. John’s is the hottest sleeper pick to win the Big East Tournament. The Red Storm went 7-1 at Madison Square Garden, the host venue, this season and beat both Notre Dame and Pittsburgh there. St. John’s is another team that does have that elite go-to guy that can make a difference: Dwight Hardy.

GEORGETOWN HOYAS (21-9)

Sportsbook odds: +1200

Georgetown limps into the tourney having lost four of five, all within Big East play, and its main ball distributor, Chris Wright, is out indefinitely after hand surgery. This sports betting blog suggests you stay away from the Hoyas.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (20-10)

Sportsbook odds: +1200

Last year, West Virginia was the talk of the country leading up to March Madness and won the Big East. This year, the Mountaineers are relegated to sleeper status. However, we shouldn’t count them out. Yeah, they’ve struggled against juggernauts like Pittsburgh, but Casey Mitchell really showed some clutch ability down the stretch. He could lead West Virginia to some upsets in this tournament.

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (21-9)

Sportsbook odds: +2000

Instead of Cincinnati or Villanova, I’ll go with UConn as the final team to consider in the Big East. The Huskies are struggling badly, losing four of five to enter the tourney, but they still have that crucial X-factor in Kemba Walker. I know Cincy is the hotter team but UConn’s one win over its last five came against the Bearcats.

THE PICK

It feels like every team has a shot to win the uber-competitive Big East. St. John’s and West Virginia feel like the most intriguing sleepers; Pittsburgh and Notre Dame stand out among the top contenders. In the end, I like the Irish. They knocked out Pittsburgh last year and I think the inside presence of Hansbrough and guys like Carleton Scott will be too much for Pitt to handle should they meet in the final.

Today’s free pick: Notre Dame +200

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a winner Monday is on the Portland Trail Blazers (+2) at Orlando.

This may be the simplest write-up that I have ever had, truly. The Trailblazers aren’t great at all but with Dwight Howard out suspended who on the Magic has any chance of slowing down LaMarcus Aldridge? Orlando is an extremely small team that has Howard in the paint and pretty much nothing else. They made the flurry of trades a few months ago after that losing streak and really became a ton smaller limiting themselves in a major way if anything ever happened to Howard.

Well it now happened as the big man is out suspended for accumulating all of the technical fouls.

Orlando does have a ton of guys that are somewhat quick and can shoot in Arenas, Richardson, Turkoglu, Redick and Anderson but the deficiency in the paint is just beyond belief and would rival Gulliver against the Liliputians or whoever he was against. If I was smart enough to know that I probably wouldn’t be doing this.

Plus Portland has really manned up through all of the injuries and is a team that has to be taken seriously by all right now. The Blazers have won two in a row and 9 of their last 12 games to get to the current 35-27 mark.

Stan Van Gundy will have no choice but to go small and that will mean a lot of long range shooting for the home Magic. If they can consistently knock down those three’s then all I can do is tip my cap. But the advantage with a guy that has been blowing up in Aldridge tonight in the middle is just much too good to overlook.

Aldridge is a superstar, Brandon Roy is still somewhat around, Andre Miller is a bit rejuvenated and after 48 minutes I will gladly fade the well undersized Magic without their star in Howard.

Top expert pick on this game: Portland from the real Matt Rivers

For more information: I don’t give out many plays in the Association as the league is certainly not the easiest one out there but when I spot a play such as today’s from Charlotte between the Clippers and Bobcats I have no choice but to pounce. Charlotte traded away Gerald Wallace and has not been playing well but the Clippers are across the country, without Eric Gordon and still the “Clippers”. So what gives? I’ll give 500,000* and the most potent play in my arsenal on what gives! Get today’s card

Senior Writer Vegas Matty previews previews the Portland Trail Blazers at Orlando Magic from an NBA spread standpoint.

The Orlando Magic (40-23) will again get to find out what life is like without their NBA MVP candidate on Monday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (35-27).  The Magic (-3) will not have All-Star center Dwight Howard in the lineup due to a one-game suspension he received after picking up his 16^th technical foul of the season on Friday in an 89-81 home loss to Chicago.

Howard scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds against the Bulls, who outrebounded Orlando by a 50-30 margin.  The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Magic that included key victories against Miami (99-96) and New York (116-110).  The team split two games earlier this season against Detroit and Milwaukee that Howard missed with a stomach virus, but those two teams combined have just 11 more wins than the Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile, Portland has won consecutive games after losing two in a row and begins a four-game road trip in Orlando.  The Trail Blazers have won their last five road games – going 4-0-1 against the spread – and are coming off a 93-69 rout of Charlotte at home on Saturday, limiting the Bobcats to 1 of 10 shooting from behind the 3-point arc.  LaMarcus Aldridge also continued his strong play despite being snubbed from the All-Star Game, scoring a game-high 26 points in addition to totaling seven rebounds.

Aldridge has scored 20 points or more in 10 of the team’s last 12 games, averaging nearly 27 points per game during that stretch.  He figures to be the biggest beneficiary of Howard’s absences after making just 5 of 15 shots and scoring 14 points in a 97-83 home win against the Magic in their only regular-season meeting back on December 9.  Howard enjoyed a monster game of 39 points and 15 rebounds in that game, but the Blazers still outscored Orlando in the paint 50-30 and had a 10-0 edge in fast-break points.

The UNDER has cashed in three of Portland’s last four games along with the last three meetings with the Magic, who have also seen the UNDER go 11-2 in their past 13 games overall.  The Trail Blazers have won and covered each of the last two meetings as home underdogs, and the home team is 7-3-1 ATS in the past 11 games between the teams.  Portland has lost in four of its last five trips to Orlando.

Top expert pick today: Matt Rivers does not give out many plays in the Association as the league is certainly not the easiest one out there but when I spot a play such as today’s from Charlotte between the Clippers and Bobcats I have no choice but to pounce. Charlotte traded away Gerald Wallace and has not been playing well but the Clippers are across the country, without Eric Gordon and still the “Clippers”. So what gives? I’ll give 500,000* and the most potent play in my arsenal on what gives! OffshoreInsiders.com has the card

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free winning pick on the LA Lakers (+3) at San Antonio.

Kobe and the Lakers should be nice and rested and ready to roll today. No doubt San Antonio has been unreal with that gaudy 51-11 record which is heads and shoulders the best in all of the NBA but I still believe that Greg Popovich’ squad is going to run out of gas a tad and fall back down to Earth before the season is out. I truly do not give San Antonio a great shot at being able to maintain this level and win the championship. My belief is that the somewhat aging Spurs have played too great thus far and have peaked which will result in a disappointing end of the season and postseason making them very fade worthy these days. The talent level including the big three in Duncan, Parker and Ginobili is still pretty solid but that hasn’t resulted in such a record in years making me feel that they just cannot be as good as the record indicates and a definite go against as the season comes to a close.

The Lakers have had ups and downs this season for sure but there’s still the Black Mamba in Kobe Bryant leading the way along with a big and dominant frontcourt with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Los Angeles is an elite 44-19 team and after having only played a pair of games this past week with both being easy victories over Minnesota and Charlotte the Lake Show should be more than fresh and locked and loaded for this litmus test of a game.

The defending champions have won six in a row and covered all except for the last game against the Bobcats which could have been a cover very easily. They look as if they are back playing at a high level after the debacle before the All-Star break capped by the shocking defeat in Cleveland and should be just fine today.

Tony Parker may have miraculously come back the other night but there’s no way that the calf can be near 100% and the still overdue to lose Spurs should get loss number dozen today.

Top expert pick on this game: LA Lakers from the real Matt Rivers.

For more information: Teasers are flat out sucker plays…most of the time. There are certain spots though where you can take a pair of chalks and tease them down putting the focus on pretty much just having to win the game in order to cover. That sets up a pair of very soft lines and a total steal of a tease. Now this doesn’t come down the pike all that often but when it does I absolutely pounce and that is the case here with one college winner along with one pro winner.

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An outstanding card is in store for Saturday say the world’s top sports handicappers website. Duke and North Carolina may be the marquee game for bettors, but not for gamblers.

Start out with The Canadian Crew. The emergence of key players from oblivion supply great angles this time of the year in NCAAB. The Canadian Crew has isolated two great situations to exploit that angle Saturday. The Crew is specific as they always are. They are 18-9 with named plays and on a recent 8-4 overall tear.

This is also a perfect spot play to top it off. Get three Saturday plays, all backed by fantastic insight including the NCAA Saturday Night Best Bet of the Year. The Crew tells you very specifically why a team is under the oddsmakers radar and how it all comes into fruition tonight.

Now to the founder of forensic sports handicapping Stevie Vincent, the King of Offshore.

Off a 2-0 NCAAB sweep. What a Saturday we have in store. Get an pro basketball lock, plus three in collegiate basketball including the Pac 10 O/U of the Decade. Get another Level 5 as well. The top angles in each game Saturday are 11-0, 9-0, another 9-0, and 52-19.

The greatest service of all-time is GodsTips led by Grandmaster Sports Handicapper Joe Duffy, CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com, the top sports betting site in the world.

NBA steam added! Marist, the underdog, wins outright. As explained, that great angle applies often in the conference tournaments and rarely loses. Off  Thursday sweep and the Friday underdog Wise Guy easy, GodsTips enters the weekend off consecutive winning nights in what has been a great 2010-11 basketball season.

Two college basketball Wise Guys, nine Majors already up.

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It’s a great day to get out of the funk and a funk it has been over the past week. February was really good and March has been really bad. That’s the life of a handicapper, capitalize on the big runs and minimize the bad ones. Three winners today including an early 400,000* between Duquesne and Richmond plus a bonus 300,000* Notre Dame and Connecticut along with a 200,000* Texas-Baylor from the real Matt Rivers Every sports service pick needed is at OffshoreInsiders.com

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free sports pick Saturday and it’s is on North Carolina (-0) hosting Duke.

Reasoning: I’m not calling the Tar Heels at around a pick a great value of sorts because all in all Coach K’s Blue Devils are still the superior team that should go further in the tournament but in this revenge spot at home I’ll take my chances with Carolina blue.

I’m just not fully sold on Duke as a legitimate number one type team. Sure they’re really good with Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and a bunch of quality players but after losing Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas from last season the big men are not all that right now as the Plumlee Brothers are nothing more than good and without Jon Scheyer and Kyrie Irving running the show the Dookies are not a great team, they’re just not.

North Carolina is not all the way back after the disaster of last season but Roy Williams’ squad has made great strides and is a confident squad that continues to improve. Today is the game where they are going to go full steam ahead. The ACC title is on the line along with a matter of revenge and the Heels are playing at the Dean Dome. It’s just tough for me to see Duke coming into hostile territory in this rivalry and being able to sweep this series. If you watched the first game between the teams about a month ago it was apparent in that thing how UNC was the definite better team. The Devils made a great comeback in the victory as they nailed everything in that eight or so minute stretch but they did not cover in the end and certainly did not deserve to grab the cash.

Harrison Barnes may be a one and done superstar, John Henson is a really tough inside presence and all in all the Heels are once again a team that is going to cause anybody fits and especially on their home court.

It’s very possible for these teams to meet another time or two before the season is out and for Duke to flex its muscles but on this night I’m just fine with the Tar Heels getting some payback in their friendly confines.

The pick: North Carolina

For more information: It’s a great day to get out of the funk and a funk it has been over the past week. February was really good and March has been really bad. That’s the life of a handicapper, capitalize on the big runs and minimize the bad ones. Three winners today including an early 400,000* between Duquesne and Richmond plus a bonus 300,000* Notre Dame and Connecticut along with a 200,000* Texas-Baylor. Get Rivers redemption at OffshoreInsiders.com

Senior Writer Vegas Matty previews the Toronto Raptors at New Jersey Nets in London

The Toronto Raptors (17-44) and New Jersey Nets (17-43) are not exactly the ideal matchup for the first of two NBA games between the teams on Friday at London’s O2 Arena.  But at least the Nets (-2.5) and Raptors have nearly identical records and should be able to showcase the world’s best professional basketball league for the British fans in attendance.

New Jersey was worried that newly-acquired point guard Deron Williams would not be able to play due to a sore right wrist and left hand injury that have both been bothering him lately.  But Williams will not miss this opportunity to end a six-game series losing streak against Toronto overseas.  He hopes to return to London next summer for the Olympics as part of Team USA.

“I plan to be back over here for the Olympics,” Williams said.  “Hopefully get my second gold medal.”

Williams has done plenty of traveling off the court over the last week since being dealt from Utah to the Nets prior to the NBA trade deadline.  He joined the team in San Antonio during a three-game road trip and then went to Houston before playing his first home game in New Jersey on Monday, a 104-103 overtime loss to Phoenix.  The OVER has cashed in each of his first three games with the Nets, as they are averaging a little over 102 points per game with him.  Williams is averaging 14 points and nearly 16 assists per game, numbers Jason Kidd would be proud of.

Kidd used to battle Toronto in the playoffs when he was an All-Star in New Jersey, but now both teams are far from that level of play.  The Nets are riding a six-game losing streak, going 2-4 against the spread.  The Raptors have dropped 11 in a row on the road, failing to cover their last seven away from home.

Toronto is 2-3 both SU and ATS since the All-Star break, beating a pair of potential playoff teams in Chicago (118-113) and New Orleans (96-90) at home.  The Raptors got a game-high 22 points and 16 assists from Spanish point guard Jose Calderon, who knows what it is like to travel long distances between the United States and Europe.

“Always the first day, it’s kind of tough when you arrive in Europe after the flight,” Calderon said. “But we’ll be OK – we just got to practice a little bit, sweat, get a good night’s sleep, and from there we’ll be ready for Friday.”

The UNDER has cashed in the last three meetings, all of which Toronto has won and covered.  The total has also gone UNDER in two of the past three games for the Raptors overall.  With jetlag a definite possibility, a low-scoring affair might be the best bet of this game, with both teams scheduled to play again on Saturday before returning home to the United States.

Top expert pick on today’s card: Friday’s great card is highlighted by Perfect Play from Stevie Vincent, which means a stat that is 100 percent with at least 12 games. The top angle in each contest is a combined 49-3. Unlike touts on inferior sites, we don’t make claims we can’t back up. You get the exact angles unlocked inside the plays. Every top service pick is on OffshoreInsiders.com.