SFTC picks for Tuesday, March 19

We had a pretty good day yesterday, considering all of the close NBA props that could have gone either way.  I have 4 midterms this week so I may not be posting again until Friday.  I'll see if Jim can take over all props for me for the remainder of this week.  

Also, just a reminder to visit the Basketball Games page by clicking on the corresponding tab near the top of the page.  We're analyzing all of the teams in the field of 68 and will be giving our final four predictions and other valuable information.  We hope you will refer your friends to the site and join our group for Tournament Challenge.

Our top 2 "stash" picks are:

1. *NCAAM:  Robert Morris 3 pointers made
2. NCAAM:  Washington 3 pointers made or tie

Our picks for all props:

1. *Soccer:  Metallurg-Kuzbass Win or Draw
• Metallurg has one win in their previous 5 games and Torpedo has no wins.  They are 14th and 13th in the league table, respectively.  Neither team is having a great year so I would not be surprised if this game ended in a 0-0 draw or 1-1.  I know next to nothing about the Russian league so unless you are a Russian league expert, maybe avoid this pick.
• Confidence 30%
2. Other:  New York Yankees or tie
• The Phillies just got manhandled by the Braves yesterday, 17 - 10.  They are 3 - 1 in head-to-head games vs. the Yankees this Spring, but I think the Yankees have better pitching, and they won the last time they were featured on SFTC against the Cardinals.  They only thing that concerns me is that the team with the tie option hasn't won yet on SFTC.
• Confidence:  40%
3. Other:  No runs scored in the 1st inning
• Spring training games are so unpredictable, and this is just a toss up prop, so pick at your own risk.
• Confidence:  50%
4. Soccer: Derry City
• We are only two games into the Irish Premier League season so it is hard to say who will win this match, but I think Derry City will come out on top as Drogheda United has not yet won.
• Confidence: 40%
5. *NCAAM:  North Carolina A&T
• NC A&T are favored by 3 points in this game, have the better conference record, and better overall record.  Liberty is only the 2nd 20 loss team to ever make the tournament, and have had a brutal travel schedule to the game site with their plane being delayed by 8 hours.  
• Confidence:  70%
6. NCAAM:  Maryland wins by double digits
• Maryland has some impressive wins this season, beating Duke twice and NC State once.  They are coming off a narrow loss to UNC in the ACC tournament.  Niagra scores more ppg than Maryland, but they also play much weaker competition.  Maryland is at home for this game, and they will be hungry for a victory.
• Confidence:  70%
7. NCAAM:  Jakarr Sampson field goals made or tie
• Sampson averages just over 6 field goals made per game.  St. Joseph's is favored by 7 in this game, but I think that St. Johns can keep it much closer than that if not win.  St. Johns is on a 5 game losing streak and is on the road, but they played in a much tougher conference.  I especially like that Sampson has the tie option.
• Confidence:  60%
8. NHL:  Columbus Blue Jackets
• The Blue Jackets are on fire, thanks in large part to their excellent goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky.  He has a 2.00 GAA, and Phoenix is really struggling to score lately, which is why they are riding a 3 game losing streak.  The Blue Jackets being at home makes this pick even stronger.
• Confidence: 70%
9. *NHL:  New Jersey Devils
• The Devils have won 4 straight over the Rangers.  They are still without their lead goalie, but the back-up has been doing well, and only needed 16 saves the last time they played the Rangers.  The Rangers have scored just 3 goals in regular time of their last 4 games.  New Jersey has also won the last few times they have been featured on SFTC.
• Confidence: 60%
10. NHL:  New York Islanders
• The Islanders are 5 - 1 - 1 in the month of March and 3 - 0 - 2 in their last 5 home games.  The Senators have done pretty well lately as well, but from past experience, the Islanders at home are usually money on SFTC.
• Confidence: 60%
11. *NCAAM:  Robert Morris 3 pointers made
• Kentucky is only favored by 5 in this game, and Robert Morris averages an astounding 8.6 3-pointers made per game.  Kentucky is horrible at guarding the perimeter, and they struggle getting back on defense in transition.  These facts combined with the fact that Robert Morris is at home, make me pretty confident about this one.
• Confidence:  80%
12. NCAAM:  68 or more
• Kentucky averages 73.1 ppg and Robert Morris averages 71.3 ppg.  If you take the halves of those numbers, you get a combined 72.2 points.  The second halves of games are usually the higher scoring ones, but I'm going to take a chance with 68 or more in the 1st half.
• Confidence:  60%
13. *NHL:  Boston Bruins
• I'm going with the Bruins here mostly because of the play of their excellent goalie, Tuukka Rask (1.94 GAA), and because they are 16 of 20 against the Jets.  Both teams have had a busy schedule and are tired, but I think Boston has the edge here.
• Confidence: 60%
14. Other:  Dominican Republic wins by 2+ runs
• The Dominican Republic have beaten Puerto Rico by 2+ every time they have played them.  This is the championship game, so both teams will be going all out to win.  Dominican Republic does have the better team though, and history is on their side.
• Confidence: 60%
15. NCAAM:  Robert Morris first make 3-pointer of 2nd half
• Robert Morris is clearly the better 3-point shooting team.  This is a toss-up prop though.
• Confidence:  60%
16. NCAAM:  Any Other Result
• If you don't know or don't remember, Norfolk St. upset #2 seeded Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year.  They match up with Virginia pretty well on paper.  Virginia is at home, but asking them to win by 15+ is a tall order, especially with how even these teams look.
• Confidence:  70%
17. NCAAM:  Northeastern free throws made or tie
• Northeastern averages 15.56 free throws per game.  Alabama is currently favored by 12.  I'm going with Northeastern, especially since they have the tie option.
• Confidence:  70%
18. *NCAAM:  Middle Tennessee St.
• Middle Tennessee had an impressive home record at 15 - 0 and an outstanding road record of 11 - 4.  They have 13 juniors and seniors on their roster, so they are deep and have great leadership.  Sorry St. Marys, but I think your NCAA run ends here in the first play-in game.
• Confidence:  60%
19. NCAAM:  Washington 3 pointers made or tie
• The last time Washington was featured in a 3PM  prop, they won the prop.  They average 5.24 3s made per game, but the last time this type of prop was featured with Washington, they won the prop with 8 3s.  BYU is not good at all this year, and have some of the worst perimeter defending I have ever seen.
• Confidence:  70%
20. NCAAM:  10 points or less
• I have almost no faith that 11 or more will be reached by any BYU player.  There may be a couple for Washington that could reach 11, but last time this was featured, the 10 points or less side won.
• Confidence:  50%
21. *NHL:  St. Louis Blues
• The rested Blues should have little problem with the Canucks.  The Canucks are just 3 - 6 - 2 in their last 11 games.
• Confidence: 60%
22. *NCAAM:  Stephen F. Austin win/single digit loss
• Stephen F. Austin has an impressive road record of 11 - 3.  They should have won their conference tournament, but now they find themselves here.  Stanford has been pretty impressive at home this season and are favored by 9 in this game, but Stephen F. Austin should keep it close.
• Confidence:  60%

Props marked with a * are also featured on Streak It Up.