PMT DB
PMT DB
Stanford Steve on March Madness Best Bets and Big Cat's Soggy Sorrows
Sports are officially dead and stupid. At least they are for Big Cat, whose tournament lasted approximately three hours before High Point absolutely ripped his guts out. The Badgers held an eight-point lead with four minutes left before Chase Johnson started hitting logo threes like they were layups. PFT was quick to point out that this wasn't just some fluke performance from a mid-major.
PFT CommenterHigh Point is a very, very good basketball team
I actually think that High Point is a very, very good team. It was no fluke. They're a very good team.
After an hour of pacing around the office and questioning his existence, Big Cat officially brought back Soggy Sorrows. He hopped in the shower with his clothes on to process the loss, a move Hank practically begged for despite the show falling behind schedule. The trauma of 2015 still looms large, and this early exit might have been the breaking point for Big Cat’s relationship with his alma mater.
Big CatI am done believing in Wisconsin basketball because they always rip my guts out in the tournament
I think the only lesson I've learned is like, I need to just stop believing. Because this has also become a thing where the Badgers haven't been to the Sweet 16 in like nine years... every year that we keep going is another year that I'm just reminded how close I was in 2015. I will never get back there. It just won't happen like every other team.
While the pain is real, Big Cat isn't calling for a total regime change in Madison just yet. He admitted that while the defense was optional and the rebounding was non-existent, he still trusts Greg Gard to navigate the NIL era, even if the Sweet 16 drought is getting long enough to attend middle school.
Big CatGreg Gard deserves criticism but should not be fired as Wisconsin's head coach
I trust Greg Gard, but yeah, you have to throw some criticism to him... But I do not think he should be fired. And I don't think making an irrational... I think he does a pretty damn good job with everything that he's given.
The Rest of the Madness
The Wisconsin loss was just the tip of the iceberg on a chaotic Day 1. UNC managed to pull off the most impressive collapse in first-round history, blowing a 19-point lead to VCU. Big Cat and PFT were stunned by the lack of poise from a blue blood, leading to some immediate hot seat talk for Hubert Davis.
Big CatHubert Davis probably needs to be fired after UNC's historic meltdown against VCU
UNC blowing the biggest lead in first round history to VCU... Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired. Hubert's not gonna be a good magically come back next year and be a good coach.
On the flip side, Illinois looked like a well-oiled machine. They played a nearly perfect game against Penn, proving that you can actually win in March without playing like a group of street fighters. Big Cat was particularly impressed by their discipline.
Big CatIllinois is the most ethical team in the NCAA tournament because they do not foul or steal
Illinois, the most ethical team in the tournament... They do not foul and they do not steal the ball. That was another wire to wire winner where they, if you're an Illinois fan, that's, that's the Illinois... that's a deep run Illinois.
Stanford Steve’s Betting Masterclass
Friend of the program Stanford Steve joined the show to help everyone get their bankrolls back in order for the Friday slate. As a noted Duke fan, Steve dropped a bombshell by revealing that the Blue Devils are officially off his list of teams that can actually win the national title. He cited a lack of depth and the injury to Caleb Foster as the primary reasons Duke will fall short of the mountaintop.
Stanford SteveDuke cannot win the national title this year due to injuries and a lack of depth
Duke was not on that list... I took them off the list. They are currently off the list and will not be on the list. And I do not see Duke winning the national title. I really think the depth is gonna really hurt them when you look at this region alone.
Steve also took some shots at the selection committee, calling their decision-making "lazy" for stacking the Big East teams in the same region. He’s looking for rematches in the Final Four, not the second round. Despite the Duke fade, Steve is very high on the Arizona Wildcats, noting that their free-throw shooting and balanced scoring make them a lock for a deep run.
Stanford SteveArizona has to reach the Final Four this year to end a long tournament drought
Arizona's sitting at 147th at 73.4% [free throws]. They have to go to the Final Four, guys. They need to have success in this tournament. They need to make Indianapolis. And I believe they will.
When it comes to actually making money on Friday, Steve shared his favorite tournament-specific strategy. He loves looking at the backdrops and the shooting environments of these massive arenas to find value where most fans aren't looking.
Stanford SteveBetting first-half unders is the best strategy for the early rounds of the NCAA tournament
I have a theory about the first tournament games... I look at first half unders just because of their in arenas. The crowds aren't great. The shooting backdrops are different... it's been really good, but it's, I wouldn't say like it's been above 65%.
Fyre Fest and Friday Feelings
The episode wrapped up with a very emotional Fyre Fest. PFT shared a touching tribute to his father, reminding everyone that March Madness was their favorite time to bond and urging listeners to call their parents while they can. It was a rare moment of sincerity that even Big Cat couldn't bring himself to follow with a joke.
Max also got into a heated exchange with Steve regarding the hierarchy of Big East programs. While Max is riding high on Villanova, Steve reminded him that the people in Maryland haven't forgotten about Kevin Willard.
MaxVillanova is a better basketball program than Maryland
Villanova just a better, a better basketball program... People of Villanova do not care about Maryland. Max is your bad. And the people of Maryland are, are obsessed with every single thing that Kevin Willard does.
If you're looking for a safe harbor in the storm of upsets, Steve suggested looking toward the women's bracket for a parlay that feels like free money.
Stanford SteveSouth Carolina and Texas are safe bets to reach the Women's Final Four
If you want an easy parlay, South Carolina and Texas to go to the Final Four. It's like minus one 15. But those two teams got easy tracks.
Good luck to everyone's brackets, except for whoever is playing against the guys' bets.
