2011 Big East Tournament Semifinals Free Picks and Odds – Uconn-Syracuse and Louisville-Notre Dame Expert Picks and Predictions on ESPN 3/11/11: The nation’s best College Basketball conference postseason tournament is down to just four teams left, as the 2011 Big East Semifinals take place tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City when #9 seed Connecticut battles #4 seed Syracuse at 7PM EST(ESPN) followed by #3 seed Louisville versus #2 seed Notre Dame in the nightcap. The vegas oddsmakers have posted the opening lines on tonight’s two matchups with Syracuse opening as a -3.5 point favorite with the total set at over/under 137 versus Uconn and Notre Dame opening as a slight -1 point favorite with the total set at over/under 137.5 versus Louisville on the sportsbook odds board at the Mirage.
The first Big East semifinal of the night should be fun to watch as it features two Hall of Fame coaches in Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun plus arguably the most dazzling player in the nation. Without question, the most outstanding player of the 2011 Big East Tournament thus far has been Uconn’s sensational guard Kemba Walker. The NYC native nailed a game winning jumper from the top of the key yesterday to give the Huskies a thrilling 76-74 win over #1 seed Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals. Walker is averaging 26.0 ppg thus far in the 2011 Big East Tournament and will look to carry his team tonight against the 11th ranked Orange who defeated Uconn 66-58 in Connecticut back on February 2nd and have beaten Uconn three games in a row. Tonight’s meeting will mark the 5th time these two storied Big East powers have met in the last 7 years in the Big East Tournament and the first meeting since Syracuse’s unforgettable 127-117 six-overtime victory back in the 2009 Big East quarterfinals.
The second semifinal of the night should be a barnburner if past history repeats itself when Rick Pitino’s Cardinals take the floor versus Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish. Notre Dame defeated Louisville 89-79 in overtime at home in South Bend back on February 9th, which marked the 4th time in the last seven meetings between these two teams that the game has needed overtime to determine the winner including three of the last four. Tonight’s game is of added importance to Notre Dame as they are now positioned nicely to seal up a #1 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament Bracket if it wins the 2011 Big East Tournament with Pittsburgh having lost in the quarterfinals. Both Notre Dame and Pittsburgh could wind up being #1 seeds, but there’s no question a Big East Tournament Championship would leap frog Notre Dame over Pittsburgh in the overall seeding curve.
For those of you who would like to bet on tonight’s Big East Semifinals the real question heading into tonight is who will cover the spread! Frankly, tonight’s top two overall teams are Syracuse and Notre Dame. However, Syracuse will have it’s hands full playing a Uconn team that will have the best player on the court plus the Orange will be playing a Uconn team that will be hell bent on ending the Orange’s three game winning streak over the Huskies. Uconn will be playing their 4th game in four days but something tells us that Walker will do what he’s done all season and carry his team to another victory with clutch play late in the game. Take Uconn +3.5 points. As for the Notre Dame vs Louisville showdown our money is riding on Notre Dame -1. Louisville will certainly be out for revenge to pay the Irish back for that overtime loss a month ago but Notre Dame is the better team and will be extra motivated to secure a #1 overall seed in the March Madness Bracket and should secure that with at least a win tonight to reach the Big East Championship Game.
FREE PICKS: Uconn +3.5 and Notre Dame -1
OPENING VEGAS BETTING LINES:
Connecticut vs Syracuse 7 PM EST ESPN
Favorite: Syracuse -3.5 Total: O/U 137.5
Louisville vs Notre Dame 9:25 PM EST ESPN
Favorite: Notre Dame -1 Total: O/U 137.5