Your Hoops and Horses Selections for March 18-19

Welcome to America’s Best Racing’s Hoops and Horses column, where winners play!
Horse racing is Joe Kristufek’s means to an end, and he loves the sport like no other, but as a Chicago Bulls season ticket holder for eight years and a feared participant in fantasy hoops, Kristufek also has his finger on the pulse of the NBA.
From growing up with the Flintstones of Michigan State, running March Madness pools out of his hidden manila envelope in high school, to attending conference tournaments, Sweet 16s and Final Fours, college basketball runs in Derek Cooley’s blood.
Let’s sprint out on the fast break, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
College Hoops – by Derek Cooley
It’s time for Madness, baby!
Alright, I know right now you are probably glancing at this story while watching some of the first day of action.  It’s St. Paddy’s day - AND it’s the greatest day of the year!  The round of 64 is underway and everyone, I mean EVERYONE has their brackets handy.
Just give me a moment of your time, heck it could be Friday morning by the time you read this, but just a moment is all you need as we break down the lines and make picks for ALL of Friday’s action.
The ITALICIZED team, that’s the pick against the spread, and in no particular order … here we go!
Lines are as of Wednesday night from scoresandodds.com.
Season Total: 6-5-1 (.545)
15 UNC-Asheville vs. 2 Villanova -17.5 (12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV)
I love the Wildcats in this one, great shooting will get them out early and on their way over UNC-Asheville.
10 Temple +7.5 vs. 7 Iowa (3:10 p.m. ET, TruTV)
I actually have Temple winning this game, especially with the way Iowa has played as of late. Never count out Fran Dunphy and the Owls, especially with seven points!
14 Stephen F. Austin vs. 3 West Virginia -7.5 (7:10 p.m. ET, CBS)
Two teams with similar styles won’t bode well for the former. I like the Mountaineers going away.
11 Michigan vs. 6 Notre Dame (9:40 p.m. ET, CBS)
I don’t care what the line is, give me the Irish. Don’t think Michigan belongs here.
15 CS Bakersfield vs. 2 Oklahoma -14.5 (4 p.m. ET, TNT)
Love Buddy Hield to get his team off on the right foot vs. the first-timers in CS Bakersfield.
10 VCU -4 vs. 7 Oregon St. (1:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Love the Rams here, and the 10 seed is favored for a reason. No Tres Tinkle for the Beavers.
14 Wisconsin-Green Bay +13 vs. 3 Texas A&M (7:20 p.m. ET, TBS)
Scary game for the Aggies, as I think the Phoenix will put up more than a fight. Got through a tough Horizon League.
11 Northern Iowa +4 vs. 6 Texas (9:50 p.m. ET, TBS)
Northern Iowa takes everything until the end, and I think this game is decided by one possession.
15 Weber St. vs. 2 Xavier -13 (9:20 p.m. ET, TNT)
I’m personally just a big fan of the big boys in round one, Musketeers cover.
10 Pittsburgh vs. 7 Wisconsin -2 (6:50 p.m. ET, TNT)
Wisconsin has a touch more talent than Pitt and can really get to the line. That gets it done in this slugfest.
15 Middle Tennessee St. vs. 2 Michigan State -17.5 (2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
It will be bombs away for the Spartans with Bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine. Too much for the Blue Raiders to contend with.
FORBES (below) AND VALENTINE ARE A LETHAL COMBO

By thornton krell from Rochester, United States - terry rozier, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41363762
10 Syracuse +1.5 vs. 7 Dayton (12:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
The Orange come into the tourney much maligned, but will get some momentum going with a win over the Flyers.
12 South Dakota State vs. Maryland -10 (4:30 p.m. ET, TBS)
Maryland is not your typical five seed, and 10 points is a lot for a 5-12 matchup. But the Terps are dangerous as a five and get it started right.
13 Hawaii vs. 4 Cal -6.5 (2 p.m. ET, TBS)
The Rainbow Warriors are a nice story, but Cal just has so much talent!
9 Cincinnati -1.5 vs. 8 St. Joe’s (9:55 p.m. ET, TruTV)
Finally something goes right for the Bearcats. They play supreme defense and will outwork St. Joe’s.
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
Last week was fun and profitable.
Danzing Candy wired the San Felipe Stakes at VERY generous odds of 5-1, Outwork ran well to finish second behind stablemate Destin in the Tampa Bay Derby and Effinex settled for third in the Santa Anita Handicap.
Last week: 3-1-1-1 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $33.40 returned)
Season Total: 20-6-4-4 ($2 WPS * $120 wagered * $123.00 returned = $6.15)
Saturday, March 19
Oaklawn Park – Hot Spring, Ark.
Race 8 –  Razorback Handicap (G3)
#4 Shotgun Kowboy (morning-line odds, 6-1)
The winner of three straight, including two route races, late last year prior to a tough run in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, this guy recently resurfaced in a sprint stakes at Fair Grounds. He ran evenly that day, but the race should serve as a perfect springboard to the stretch out.
Race 10 - Rebel Stakes (G2)
#4 Cupid (morning-line odds, 4-1)
Bob Baffert, who incredibly has won this race five of the last six years, scratched this guy out of last Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes, a race in which he ran second with Mor Spirit. He only has a maiden win on the résumé, but that was his first try around two turns and this son of Tapit is progressive and potentially special.
CUPID

Coady Photography
Gulfstream Park – Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Race 11 – Spectacular Bid Stakes
#7 Epic Journey (morning-line odds, TBD)
A good second behind Morning Fire in the Pasco Stakes, run in late January at Tampa Bay Downs, this guy has been rested since. He’s well drawn on the outside, which should allow him to sit in the catbird’s seat before pouncing off the turn. 
Pro Hoops – by Joe Kristufek
Not so good last week. The Utah Jazz handled the Washington Wizards and covered at home, but the Detroit Pistons proved no match for the streaking Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics dropped a close one to the Houston Rockets. We also were 1-2 on over/unders.
Last week: 2-4
Season Total: 13-13 (.500)
Friday, March 18
Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic
Just when the Cavs look like a team that can contend for a title, they toss in a clunker. They’re feeling pretty good about themselves right now but will run into an inspired Magic team that has spent a lot of tough nights on the road lately. Playoffs hopes are faint, but coach Scott Skiles will continue to crack the whip.
Orlando Magic – 105
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 103
Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons
In the heat of a battle to finally make the playoffs, the Pistons lost a tough one at home to the Hawks earlier in the week. The Kings are beat up, in turmoil and have nothing to play for. Here’s hoping Andre Drummond can limit Demarcus Cousins. If he does, it could be a long night in Detroit for Sacramento.
Detroit Pistons – 114
vs. Sacramento Kings – 101
DRUMMOND

By Keith Allison - Flickr: Andre Drummond, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30694823
Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors
Losers of four of their last five, the upstart Celtics have hit a bump in the road. They face a difficult task in Toronto, but the Raptors will have played a tough game in Indiana the night prior and they might be ripe for the pickings for a Boston team that should be highly focused to get their mojo back. Expect a high scoring affair.
Boston Celtics – 117
at Toronto Raptors – 113