Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The second day of the Sweet 16 offers up action in Indianapolis and Memphis, and the Hawks get a visit from the Celtics.
On the road to the Final Four . . .
The Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament concludes on Friday night, with games in the Midwest and South regions. Overall top seed Louisville is one of four Midwest teams in action at Indianapolis‘ Lucas Oil Stadium, and they’ve been listed as a 9-point favorite against No. 12 Arizona (with the total for the game sitting at 139.5 points). The other Midwest contest is No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 2 Michigan State, with the Spartans 1.5-point favorites and the total at 138 points.
In South region action at FedExForum in Memphis on Friday it’ll be No. 3 Syracuse vs. No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 1 North Carolina. The Orange/Sooners matchup opened as a pick’em, but Oklahoma had moved to a 1-point favorite by mid-week (with the total at 153 points). The top-seeded Tar Heels are favored by 8.5 points in their game against the Bulldogs to cap off the Sweet 16, while the oddsmakers have pegged the total for that matchup at 162.5.
March Madness spread picks for Sweet 16…
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Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
Twenty teams will hit the hardwood around the NBA on Friday night as the league ends the work week with 10 matchups on the schedule. The top matchup on the slate will take place in Atlanta, where the Celtics will meet the Hawks. Boston edged the Hawks 88-85 in Atlanta on December 17, failing the cover the 4-point spread on the road. The Celtics also won a November matchup 103-102.
Also on tap for Friday: Oklahoma City at Toronto, Charlotte at Philadelphia, Milwaukee at Orlando, the Lakers at New Jersey, New Orleans at New York, Denver at Dallas, the Clippers at San Antonio, and Memphis at Sacramento. As well, LeBron James and his Cavaliers will play host to the lowly Timberwolves; those teams met with predictable results on December 17 – a 93-70 Cavs romp.
More betting odds…
The bitter rivals, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are the favorites to win the 2009 World Series. Adam Lambert is now a prohibitive favorite to win American Idol 2009 according to the Hollywood and entertainment betting odds.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
The NHL offers up six games on Friday night, including an East/West clash between the Devils and Blackhawks in Chicago. New Jersey hasn’t played since Monday night, when they were doubled up 4-2 by the division-rival Flyers in Philadelphia. The Devils and Hawks met in New Jersey on March 17, with Martin Brodeur leading his team to a 3-2 win as a -150 home favorite on the moneyline.
Washington will host Tampa Bay in one of the other five games on the ice on Friday night. As well, it’ll be Toronto at Buffalo, the Islanders at Detroit, Vancouver at Colorado, and Edmonton at Anaheim. The Oilers and Ducks haven’t met since December 19 in Edmonton, when Anaheim picked up a 3-2 victory. Both of those teams need Friday’s win in their hunt for a playoff position.
Rounding out the Roundup . . .
The NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight will take place on Saturday (Glendale and Boston) and Sunday (Indianapolis and Memphis), with the Final Four set for April 4 and the tourney championship on April 6 (all at Detroit‘s Ford Field). The other three college hoops postseason events will wrap up next week; the National Invitational Tournament will stage its semifinals on March 31 and its championship on April 2, the CollegeInsider.com tourney will conclude on March 31, and the CBI finishes with a three-game set on March 30, April 1, and April 3.