March 21, 2021 • 45 mins
Bernie Fratto breaks down all the excitement from the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament and gives you the 5 teams that he believes have the best chance to win it all. Legendary Sportsbook Director of the Golden Nugget Tony Miller joins Bernie to give insight on all the action in Vegas for the tournament and identifies key trends you need to know for your best on the next round! Mackenzie Rivers joins Bernie for more factoids and Best Bets for the Round of 32!
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in the AD Council. Don't listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well,
after seven hundred and thirty days, it's back. We were
(02:09):
robbed last year, but it's back. I've always said sports
are the greatest reality show, and you can script everything
about the ending. But when it comes to March madness,
that goes double. And now the eternal question who can
execute the fundamentals with poise under pressure consistently for six
(02:30):
straight games. And on that note, welcome back to another
award winning edition straight out of Vegas, The Weekend Adaptation.
I'm Bernie Fradiwer com to you alive from the Farmers
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(02:51):
Look at pictures of food. Your friends eight again, call
one eight eight Farmers for a quote. We are tonight.
We take a large bite out of the March Madness
playbook and in a minute I will give my dissertation
as to who and why root for what and why
(03:11):
I think there are only five teams that can win
it all. And about fifteen minutes will be joined by
legendary sports book director Tony Miller of the Golden Nugget,
and he'll give a peek what's going on behind this
busy weekend in Los Vegas. Later on, after Brian Filey's update,
we're gonna continue to talk big dance doings with plenty
of information for the whole family. I'll give you some
(03:32):
stats and figures that you might get a kick out of.
And of course we close down the show with macin
on sports and plenty of data that has already been
compiled after the first two days of the tournament, actually
the first three days, remember it started Thursday, with the
playing games that you're gonna find surprising sports or entertainment.
But they're more than that. They are shared experiences such
(03:54):
people want to talk about them. You've come to the
right place. We've got a lot to talk about tonight.
This is straight out of Vegas, the pre game show
you always wanted. And as they say in Richard Patino, Minnesota,
it's going to be lit. Before we jump in, I
want to take a minute to welcome in our newest affiliate,
our six hundred affiliate at Fox Sports Radio. That would
(04:17):
be Fox Sports Radio one or three point five FM
and ten am the game in Spokane, Washington. And yes
they are home of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the team I've
got in my Fox Sports Radio tournament bracket to win
it all. I would just say this, it's OK and
welcome to the family. We're happy to have you. That's
(04:38):
Fox Sports Radio one or three point five FM, ten AM.
The Game our six hundred affiliate and the annals of
Fox Sports Radio. Now, when Selection Sunday hit the airwaves
last week, it was like the closest thing to normal
and over year water cooler buzz the next day erupted.
When it comes to March, Matt This and the conversation
(05:02):
and bracketology, the subject matter is usually boiled down to
two things. One who we think will win and who
are rooting for to win? Now, See how don't I
said this earlier? I don't really have a rooting interest
because I always root for the story, the best story,
the ones you'll be telling over that same water cooler,
you know, for the next forty seven years, like this one,
(05:26):
you know, prior to the nineteen seventy seven n c
A Men's basketball tournament, which is commonly known as you know,
the Big Dance March Madness, the late great Al McGuire
you might remember he became a great announcer after his
coaching career. At that time, he was the head coach
of the Market They were called the Warriors then Market
Warriors Will He announced suddenly right before the tournament he'd
(05:46):
be stepping down from his perch, effective at the end
of the tournament. It came as a shock to all
because first the timing, did the diabolical McGuire, who had
been at the helm for Marquette for twenty two years,
have something up a sleeve? Was he, in fact, you know,
trying to fire up his team. He's the only coach
that was ever ejected from a final four game, so
(06:08):
you know it was a It was a little off,
but in a good way. But he never won the
national championship, the coveted national championship, and most believed he
wouldn't retire until he reached the promised land, so report
I masked. A reporter asked him at the press conference, al,
is this employ for you to fire up your team
so you can go to winner? Notpe McGuire said, we
know we have no chance to win this thing, but
(06:30):
we might be like a cockroach and employ the spaghetti.
Don't be surprised if we fall in and mess it
up for somebody else. And when the fourteen rank Marquette
Warriors defeated Dean Smith's powerful North Carolina tar Heels sixty
seven and fifty nine and the finals two in it
all that year, it was universally agreed that McGuire had,
(06:50):
in fact shocked the world. That win came in Al
McGuire's final game as head coach, and it gave Marquette
the program. It's loan national championship. It was madness. Now,
back then I did have a rooting interest. I was
actually rooting for Almadwire. He's one of the most interesting
people you'd ever want to meet. Accomplished, successful, influential. In fact,
(07:13):
as I said earlier, he went on to have a
great broadcasting career after his coaching days, and his stock
and trade with signature quips like if you go into
a bar and two two patrons are scoring off to fight.
The guy who takes off his jacket, he's not a
tough guy. But the guy who takes off his watch,
he's a tough guy. But I digress. Well, I don't
have a rooting interest. I do have opinions. I'm paid
(07:34):
to have opinions, so I give them. Frankly, I don't
think we've already had a ton of upsets. All right,
we'll get to that a little bit later. But I
don't think when we get down to the nitty grady
there's gonna be a lot of madness. I think it's
gonna be more of a chalk tournament. I think there
are only five teams who can win it all. So
let's dive in Gonzaga. I think this is Mark Fu's
(07:59):
best team. Five straight Sweet sixteen, one possession from beating
North Carolina for all the marbles. A couple of years ago,
they hammered Iowa, Kansas Virginia six wins of ten plus points.
And I know what I just said as a strong
statement because they've had, you know, first round picks like
Ruy hatchermur and Brandon Clark. That was the team a
(08:19):
couple of years ago after losing to North Carolina in
the national title game in but the Bulldogs have never
had a group with this volume of talent, depth and efficiency.
I mean they shoot fifty from the field. If you
play them in Mandy Man defense, come at him with
his zone, they'll shoot. They're led by Jalen Sucks. He's
a projected top five pick. Anytime they get on the floor,
(08:42):
he can be the best player whenever he wants to be.
Corey Kisspert, He's the West Coast Conference Player of the
Year made of his three point attempts. He'll be a
lottery pick most likely Drew Timmy. He's their center. He'd
be the number one player for n of the teams
in the country. And if they lock up against Illinois,
I believe they'll beat Illinois as much as I like
(09:03):
Illinois and Kofi Colburn, Coburn will have to play defense
against Drew Timmy, and I think to dream Drew Timmy
will drive him nuts and that'll be different in the game.
They also have a transfer from Florida named Andrew Nemard.
He is one of the reserves, considered the fourth best
player on the team, and he has the only triple
double on the team this year. And so when you
(09:24):
know he has been on the floor as a key
component when they beat Kansas and West Virginia and Virginia
and Iowa. So interesting storyline. Obviously, there are a number
one undefeated overall seed and you all know by now
they're the only under check that the only undefeated team
to win it all was Bobby ni Indiana Hoosiers that year.
(09:48):
There were no duke in Kentucky in the tournament. This year,
there's no duke in Kentucky in the tournament. Dijav all
over again. When we're gonna find out, But It's not
gonna be easy. I've actually got them playing Baylor in
the finals, and you can make a case, uh and
Baylor can win it all. I don't think they will,
but they can. And you could make a case that
no coach Scott Drew he inherited chaos in a situation
(10:11):
that could have been worse. He took the program over
in two thousand three that they were dealing with a murder,
improper payments, severe n c A sanctions. But since then
he's Scott Drew was turned Baylor into a perennial contender
last season. I wish we had had a tournament last season.
Baylor won twenty three in a row during a significant
stretch this season. It's one regular season loss was at Kansas,
(10:35):
days after the team had returned from a twenty one
day pause. Jared Butler, Davian Mitchell, McKayle, Teague, their studs.
You cannot rule out the Baylor Bears. The Illinois fighting
a lion I and they've got a very interesting matchup tomorrow.
Agean's sister Jean and during a three game stretch late
(10:56):
in the season, Illinois beat Nebraska. Was constant in Michigan
by twenty three points, and that's when people started to
really take notice because Iowa Dessumi broken nose at all
shooting from the three point line. He's award and award contender.
He's definitely an NBA prospect. He didn't even play in
those games. That's why I brought those games up. So
(11:18):
Illinois is not a one man team. I mentioned Kofi Coburn.
He made sixty seven percent of his shots inside the
ark during Big Den play. That's big time. They got
a great freshman who's really emerged named Andrea Carbello, averaging
sixteen points a game. The last time that Illinois was
a number one seed, well it was two thousand five.
(11:39):
They made it to the finals, lost to North Carolina
the title game in two thousand five. This group has
a chance to make a similar run. A lot of
people have them in their brackets as winning it all
all right, uh I I think Alabama can win it
all too. I love coach day notes. He's a Detroit guy.
(12:01):
He's an analytic s guru. He focuses on threes, layups,
free throws. Very athletic and outstanding defensively. They're communicating switch well,
switch very well. They're gonna be a load for any opponent. Okay,
you got six five John Petty, you got Herbert Jones,
the SEC player of the year. Bama plays with incredible pace.
(12:21):
They shoot thirty threes a game. They can play small ball,
and they use its top ten tempo to beat teams
in transition. And they also made of their three pointers
this year. And did I mentioned they were the SEC's
most efficient defense. That's a good conference. They won the
SEC regular season and tournament titles, and they've only lost
(12:43):
one game since February six that was on the road
at Arkansas. Another team I don't like, I love. I
believe they can win it all. And this sort of
completes my final four. He's a Houston Cougars. I love
Kelvin Sampson. They locked up a number two seed after
they just blew through the a C with just three losses.
(13:07):
They have an incredibly hard nosed brand of basketball. They
can play bullyball, but they can do a lot of
other things too. They ranked in the top ten and
adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency and per Ken Palm. If
you believe in Ken Palm, and I do. Since two
thousand two, when college basketball analytics really started to get
(13:28):
to the mainstream, and Ken Palmeroy started his site. Since then,
seventeen of eighteen n c H champions have ranked in
the top twenty in offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. Now
four teams fit that criteria this year. Gonzaga, which is
first on offense twelve on defense, Illinois which is seventh
(13:49):
and sixth respectively, Michigan which is sixth and fifth. But
I don't think Michigan can win it, not without Isaiah Livers.
He is to cole to that team. With Isaiah Livers
on the floor, Michigan is an elite offensive team. When
Isaiah Livers doesn't play, they're a very good offensive team.
(14:10):
I don't think they'll win it without Isaiah Livers, and
I'm not sure that they will with him. Houston is
also in that Ken Pomeroy group their ninth and eighth
respectively and offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. And by the way,
they're the number two offensive rebonding team in the country. Now,
I'll probably get hit male if I don't at least
(14:31):
mentioned the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They do have Kaid Cunningham,
probably the best player in the country. He's the projected
number one pick. He's a freshman phenomen Look at Oklahoma
State is gonna enter every game they play with the
single most talented player on the floor, and I think
they have to throw away everything to happen in the
(14:52):
first half of the season. Cunningham in Oklahoma State, they
they play like a top seed, and they've played like
a real contender. They hammer Texas and Texas tap, they
swept Oklahoma, they swept Or they beat West Virginia twice.
And all those things happened before the last month of
the season when Oklahoma found themselves playing even better. Now,
(15:17):
this run feels a little bit like the stretch run
that Yukon had with Kemba Walker back Inn or maybe
even you know this is a comparison. It's a bit
of a stretch, But some folks have put them in
the same sentences Syracuse in two thousand three when Carmelo
Anthony was a freshman and they wanted all the top
(15:37):
of the bracket. Though you know they're strong, they've they've
you know, they've got a gauntlet to run through. So
you take them one step at a time, and you know,
Oklahoma's State's got to get it done tomorrow before you
can start talking about them winning it all or even
getting to the final four. I don't believe they'll even
(15:58):
get to the final four, but I would you remiss
if I didn't mention them. I know it's a short list,
but the way I see it is that they are
really the only four or five teams, six teams maybe
that can win those six games and consistently performed down
the stretch when it matters most star power, defense, rebounding,
(16:20):
crunch time, clutch, making your free throws like Oral Roberts did.
It's been a crazy three days in Vegas. It's everything
we hoped it would be. And Las Vegas, I will
tell you, is on the recovery. I'll have some data
for you and we're gonna talk about all that with
our guests coming up. Tony Miller with the Golden Mugget
(16:43):
Nugget sports book, legendary here in town and certainly a
fan favorite. I'm Bernie Fratta Were Comedy Alive from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame
show you always wanted, So don't go away. You're listening
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the ad Council. We're back on straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show You Always Wanted On Bernie Freder Company
Alive from the Farmer's Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios called
one in eight farmers to switch and you can see
a bundle on your auto insurance. Allright, let's welcome and
a gentleman. He's a fan favorite here in Las Vegas,
a good friend of mine, the legendary sports book director
(18:54):
over at the Golden Nugget Hotel, Tony Miller. Tony, how
are you, buddy, Bernie my man? How are you? Thanks
for having me on tonight. I'm so excited as I
know you are, because you go. But we go back
a year and we were robbed last season. Uh so
let's start with this because everybody around the country asks
me what is Vegas feel like? Now? I see foot
(19:14):
traffic everywhere. I'm guessing the handle is huge. Tony tickets
behind the counter and tell everybody what you're seeing. Oh, Bernie,
let me tell you and everybody out there. You know,
it's been a rough year. And it was this time
last year we shut down. It was so depressed and
right at march Man's time. But let me tell you,
we're back for a vengeance. Vegas was hopping hopping today
(19:35):
and yesterday and we were really busy here at the
Golden Nugget and it's like the old time. It was crowded,
it was exciting and it was fun to watch. And uh,
we're back, Tony. Uh. I know the handle in was
about three million. It's my understanding based on projections, we're
gonna break that this year. Is that true? You know, Bernie,
(19:56):
I think we will. Um. You know, I was kind
of worried about my numbers b down because of the pandemic,
because of all the sports books up and around the
country right now, but you know what, it hasn't heard
a thing. And uh, we were busy as normal, and
our handle was good, and our our wages coming over
the counter were big and strong, and it was great.
So I'm looking forward to I'm good handles over the
next couple of days, and maybe we will break that record.
(20:19):
Talking with Tony Miller, sports book director of the Golden
Nut in downtown Las Vegas, Tony, we've already had four
overtime games, a fifteen seed win to thirteen seeds win,
a fourteen seed win. We've had five seven point or
greater dogs were not right. Which of those outcomes has
been the best for the books and which not so good?
(20:42):
You know, It's funny, of all the years I've been
doing is Bernie with march manness, I've never seen so
many dogs come into play, and and the Benny public
is sharp to it. They've been playing a lot of
dogs with me. So uh. The Adelaine Christians tonight, you know,
with that game was straight up win or over Texas.
That was the big hit for the house. The bet
Abilene Christian on the on the money line. They bet
(21:03):
I'm on the on the on the side, and and
it's been going like that all day with the dogs.
Normally you make a lot of money when those guys
come in, but not so now, you know, so when
the favorites come in, like Zaga covers is actually good
for us tonight And normally we don't need Nzaga, but
tonight we're on their side. And it's been going back
and forth. But so far, mind side of the cows
(21:24):
of the sports book side doing very well, Tony. Another
trend since Thursday that's been prevalent first half unders like
seven and one the first three days. Do you look
for the market to adjuster? How do you counteract that?
You know, Bernie, the public loves betting overs and we
have not adjusted to it. And you're right, those unders
(21:45):
are coming in, but nothing yet. So as long as
the public he's you know, I'll put up straight straight
side the straight totals, and as long as the couple
of public he's playing the overs and and the favorites,
I'm gonna continue to go that way. And uh, I'm
not gonna adjust it down or up either way. Now, Tony.
One of the popular props my understanding in town has
to do with the final four prop the over under
(22:08):
of the cumulative total of individual seeds, and I think
it's ten and a half. This year. Is that correct?
That's that's right around there. Yes, So are you finding
action in any particular direction? And if so, what does
that reveal to you? Actually, it would be coming in
on the under and that's telling me that you know,
the public is looking for the number one seeds and
(22:29):
the number two seeds not to come in, and uh,
that might happen, buddy, I mean you know, or excuse
me to come in and that might happen. The way
he's looking right now, it's gonna be crazy though, because
if you're a dog better you like those long seeds,
the fifteens, the fourteens, the fifteens or whatever they're gonna
You're looking at the play right now. Something really weird
can happen this year. Uh, there's no question there's there
(22:51):
seems to be a lot of parody, although I think
it's more of that hasnt have not the show before us?
Arnie span your erin Torris. They'd asked a question Aaron
asked early year about an hour ago about prop opportunities
and some of the products that you have for March Madness.
And I'm certainly a where of the conference wind totals,
and I was joking around if you're holding a pack
(23:12):
twelve ticket, you're probably happy. If you're holding an A
C C ticket, maybe not so much. What are some
of the props and the products that people can bet
on during March Manage Tony, because you guys have been
really creative on that over the years. Yeah, we dow
up a bunch of things before the tournaments started. Unfortunately,
now they're down. We don't have a whole lot of
time to throw up many moore in between. But you know,
you can bet, you know, but besides who's gonna which
(23:34):
region's gonna win, and and things like that, you can
bet on player props and and all sorts of types
of totals that we throw up. There's a lot you
can do. But unfortunately, right now, once the tournament does start,
we take those down and they're real hard to put
up this time. We'll put next week. No, it's a
lot hotter. I realize that with the games, you don't
know who's gonna win and lose every day, so you
(23:54):
don't have time to really analyze it. Uh, which team
Tony and the tournament it's minused in it's Houston is
presenting the largest liability to the books. Yeah, Houston is
a big problem for us, especially up at the Golden Nugget,
because we do have a large Houston crowd that comes
up from Texas where our headquarters are. But Houston is
one of those teams we get beat up on, and
(24:15):
a lot of the long shops of course that people
shoot babes at the moon and try and get some
big money. Any of those guys should come in and
you know what I mean. So, but other than that,
the only other one that we really get stung on
is uh, you know, side Houston is Florida State and
Iowa and a little bit on Baylor. Now, the tournament
(24:36):
itself started on Friday this week, and I think it's
really cool that we're going to have a slate of
games eight on Monday. Has that effected the Handle either way?
Is it helped to hurt the Handle? In your view?
You know why, It's kind of helped to handle because
now you have two exciting days starting on Friday where
allot of the crowd from southern California come in Las
Vegas and whatnot. So it kind of raised my hand
(24:58):
a little bit having those two big days on a
Friday and Saturday. It's gonna help us out on Monday
with you know, normally we don't have any actions, but
there will be this week and uh, you know, come
to following week. We'll see what happens when they play
those later days. Also wrapping it up with Tony Miller,
legendary sports book director over at the Golden Nugget. Tony,
I think I know the answer to this question. But
(25:19):
when v CO had the first ever COVID cancelation in
the history of March Band, it's my understanding that if
you're on the game, all those tickets are great, it
as no action, but if you're holding VCU as a
futures ticket, that's just kind of a tough break, is
that right? It sure is, especially this late in the tournament,
you know. And we had a lot of action on
(25:39):
VCU journey year, and unfortunately those tickets do go down
as a loser. That's kind of the risk you take
by betting futures. And uh, if you had action on
the game itself, though, you do get a refund on
the game against Oregon, but the futures go down the drain.
Before we let you go, Tony, Uh, you guys do
a phenomenal job down there at the Golden Nugget. Take
(26:00):
a minute to tell the folks what you've got coming up.
Give yourself a plug, NFL draft, remainder of the tournament,
anything you like. You know, Downtown the Golden Nugget. Our
main thing is we're a freestanding book. I make my
own lines, and I put up a lot of things
other books don't put up. And uh, you know so
I kind of go out on the limb on some
of my lines. I'm a little bit different than the
big boys around town. So ipe you're ever downtown Las Vegas,
(26:23):
please stop buying, staying hello and take a look at
some of my unique lines. Do that you'll find Tony
one of the more engaging, one of the funniest guys.
Former ULV football player. By the way, you got any
eligibility left, Tony, I think they could use you. I
just wish I could run, all right. Thanks for staying
up played. Of course, this is probably just normal hours
for you, but Tony, thanks for joining me. Is always
(26:44):
have you want to get down the road? You take care?
Thank you? All right? That is Tony Miller, Sports book
director of the Golden Nugget at Downtown coming up, We're
gonna take you behind what's happening here in Las Vegas
in terms of who some of the wise guys have
been on so far, how they've done, some stats, factoids,
(27:05):
faction figures, and that's about all the alliteration I got left.
But first, well, let's coorta man. You know, he's got
a nickname here around the Fox Sports radio compound. We
simply call him Swipe. Right, let's go to Brant Family
with the latest. I thought it was clown, but I
guess I'm wrong. Abilene Christians Joe pleasant Bernie, the worst
(27:27):
free throw shooter on his team, confidently sunk two at
the line with one point two seconds left as the
fourteen seated Wildcats, stunning the third seeded Texas Long Orange
fifty three fifty two in the first round of the
n C Double A Tournament on Saturday. After the game
of speechless, Abilene Christian head coach Joe Golding, reacting to
his field good moment, I have no idea. I'm sure
(27:50):
there's a lot of positives are gonna come out of that. Man.
We just beat the University of Texas. You know, little
Ablen Christian out in West Texas built a program that
went uh total toll with the University of Texas and uh,
you know it's an incredible story. On social media, Oklahoma
head football coach Lincoln o'reiley tweeted, quote, congrats Coach Golding
on a great win, big win on the big state.
(28:12):
Close quote on the big stage. That is, Riley certainly
won't waste an opportunity to throw in a calculated jab
at his rival Longhorns. Also u c l a devastating
b y U seventy three to sixty two as Bruins
Johnny joosing thriving with twenty seven points, Oregon advancing past
the v c U without playing its game after COVID
(28:32):
nineteen positives infiltrated the Rams program. The number one overall
seed in this tourney, Gonzaga bouncing Norfolk State to fifty
five as the Zags get Oklahoma next, after the Sooners
twisting up Missouri seventy two to sixty eight, thirteen seeded
Ohio ousting Virginia sixty two to fifty eight as the
Cams losing the first round of the n C Double
(28:54):
A Tournament for the second time in three years. Maryland
flushing down Yukon sixty three to fifty four, or the
two seeded Iowa quelling Grand Canyon eighties six to seventy four, USC, Alabama,
Florida State, Kansas, LSC, Craton, and Michigan all winners against
their lower seated opponents on Saturday. And finally, in the
NBA Lakers, Lebron James is out for an undetermined amount
(29:17):
of time with a sprained dankle, and as I send
it back to Bernie Frado, it doesn't matter what injury
he's dealing with, he is always here. He is a star.
I think I strained my neck eating a pizza tonight, Brian.
But I'm good to go. Man, I play hurt. Man,
you're gonna battle. I'm gonna be damnit. Hey. By the way,
I'm not gonna let you go. It's so fast there, fellow,
(29:39):
your u C l A Bruins four and a half
point favorite against a plucky Abilene Christian And by the way,
I believe Christian not for nothing. Nineteen and six against
the spread this year. You're gonna want to make a
prediction for Monday. Yeah, you know, I'm going to say
that they are going to beat Ablen Christian by more
than the spread. What I am concerned about Bernie, the
Wildcats d fence. They forced north of twenty turnovers against
(30:03):
the long Horns. I'm concerned about that. It was a
low scoring game, and so I think it's gonna be
a lot grittier and a lot tougher for a Brewin
win than we would think. But I think U. C
l a. Is gonna prevail and get through to the
sweet sixteen, which none Bernie of the national media said.
So they deserve some humility, and they deserve to look
at themselves in the mirror. What a shock you're picking
(30:26):
U c l A. I just can't believe. I just
can't believe. All that's Brian Friendly, the silver tongue devil.
You hear him throughout the week, you yucking it up
with all the big timers. I'm Bernie fradiware Back. I'm
straight out of Vegas live from the Farmers Insurance Fox
Sports Radio Studios called one eight Farmers and you could
save a whole lot of something on auto insurance. Or
(30:47):
you heard Tony Miller there a minute ago. Vegas is
really rocking, and I will tell you it feels good.
You going to the casinos, folks, if you're you know,
listening to this around the country and one of our
inner in sixty filiates tonight and I know uh that
we've got listeners pretty much in every state. We've got
folks that listen in Australia, Ireland. They're really kind and
(31:07):
I hear from them. Look, come on out, it's time
of our million people have been vaccinated. Here. We had momentum.
We Vegas had momentum heading into the Big Dance because
just got done hosting five conference tournaments. Teams the Packed
Twelve of the Mountain West, the w c C, the
Big West, in the Whack. We're all just here two
(31:29):
weeks ago. All eighty five games were played. There were
no cancelations. By the way, the players that were here,
they took ten thousand cumulative COVID tests with no confirmed positives.
All eighteen teams who advanced to the tournament stayed healthy.
By the way, shows are returning to Vida's forty shows
have returned on the strip now. The positivity rate is
(31:51):
down below five. Those are really good numbers. Oh, by
the way, we've got the tournament to now. It's a
great place to hang watch. You heard Tony Miller. There's
so much to do, but I talked about loving the storylines,
and it was really sad to see what happened with
VCU today. You know, the bubble has a new connotation.
Used to be teams were worried about being on the
(32:13):
bubble getting in the tournament, not a concerned about living
in the bubble. Just asked VCU, Hey, yes, there is
no Duke or Kentucky. First time since nineteen seventy six. Now, coincidentally,
that's the year Indiana was undefeated. Deja vu, Gonzaga. You
you and LV couldn't get it done in Remember they
won it all in ninety They crushed Duke one three
(32:35):
seventy three in March of nine to win it off
for Jerry Tarkanian. That team had actually lost three games
that year, which atas State two thousand fourteen, they were undefeated.
They lost to Kentucky in a round of thirty two
Kentucky in two thousand fifteen, they couldn't finish the job.
They got beaten the UH Final four against Wisconsin. You
(32:56):
don't know what's gonna happen. We do know that there
are some things that are starting to emerge. For instance, Okay,
now all four number one are still alive and I
can tell you that the pre tournament favorite, which is Gonzaga,
now it's won seven of the last fifteen years, including
North Carolina, Villanova most recently, the number one seed. Any
number one seed hit won three straight at eleven of
(33:19):
the last fifteen, the last to do it for Genny. However,
only forty of number one seeds make it to the
final four. So if you picked forty four number one
seeds in your bracket, unless we're gonna uh Channel two
thousand and four all over again, you're probably gonna lose
one of them. Got to love the fact that sister
Jeane Dolores Schmidt, at a hundred one years old, was
(33:42):
able to attend her first game this year. They won
uh and and they get Illinois tomorrow is a seven
and a half point favorite, which I find a very
interesting line. I think uh, Illinois Chicago is getting a
lot of respect on that line because when Illinois played
Michigan on March second, they were only laying eight another
(34:04):
laying seven and seven and a half too Illinois Chicago.
And the bottom line is that I don't know if
Illinois Chicago and Michigan would be, you know, at one
point difference on a on a neutral floor. We've already
had wacky numbers hit us between the eyes when Ohio
State loss as a number fifteen seed on Friday. Prior
(34:26):
to that, prior to Friday, in the last forty five years,
number two seeds were a hundred and thirty two and eight.
That's only the ninth loss in forty five years by
a number two seed at the hands of a number fifteen.
Interestingly enough, it's happened five times in the last nine tournaments.
Too bad for ohiuse State. A lot of folks had
him in their final four. I didn't, and I'm going,
(34:46):
you know, winning a couple of games. Uh. Look the
five twelve thing, you know all about that. I would
just say this that this thing continues to be wide open.
I still think in Zaga is gonna win it all.
That doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Uh. Tony
Miller mentioned that the final four prop of ten and
a half cumulative. It's total if you add up the
(35:10):
four number, the four seeds, and who will be in
the final four. A lot of folks are are betting
the under. But if I use c l A crashes
the party and goes all the way to the finals,
like Larry Brown did win, they lost to Louisville. No
one expected that team to do much. U C. L
A is an eleventh seed. All right, let's let's not
(35:31):
get ahead of ourselves. But I will tell you you
can start to imagine things because look, in the last
forty eight hours, we've had four overtime games, a fifteen
seed win to thirteen seeds win, a fourteen seed win,
five seven plus point underdogs went out right. We've had
a COVID cancelation, a Sister Jean sighting, and how about
(35:52):
that crazy buddy behind last night channeling his inner Kevin Pittsnagle.
We're just getting started. We've got eight games tomorrow, in
eight games Monday. By Monday night, when you go to bed,
we'll know who the sweet sixteen is. Just like that alright,
coming up. You know him, you love and you can't
leave without them. Look, there are already two significant trends
(36:15):
that have awoken since these things tipped off Thursday, and
Mackenzie will have some analysis for you because if you
listen to my if you listen to my segment with
Tony Miller. Although one of these trends has been pretty dramatic,
the players apparently haven't really been taking advantage of it.
(36:35):
I'm Bernie Fratto. Where coming to you live from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame
show you always wanted, so don't go away. You're listening
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(37:18):
find out more. What grows in the forest trees Sure
no one else grows in the forest. Our imagination, our
sense of wonder, and our family bonds grow too. Because
when we disconnect from this and connect with this, we
reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think.
(37:41):
Find a forest near you and start exploring. I Discover
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are back on straight out of Vegas, Debree, game show
you always wanted. I'm Bernie Frattle, come to you alive
from the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio student US. Call
(38:01):
one at eight Farmers and you could save a whole
lot of something on auto insurance. Called Farmers Today for
a quote. Before we get to Mackenzie, I want to
thank my broadcast team back in Los Angeles. That would
be the Private Detroit Christoper Fette, Ryan Burr, singer co
host with Bill Benson of the legendary Swingshift podcast and Brian.
(38:24):
If he changed the letters Y and A to you
and I, his name would be Bruin Finley. But he's
still the silver tongue devil. Thanks guys for all that
you do. Could not do this fine show to a
great felnation without your help. All right, you know what
I mean. Love McKenley without him. Let's get to mackinam Sports. Mackenzie,
it's been a whirlwind forty eight hours and right out
of the gate. You've uncovered some pretty dramatic trends that
(38:47):
are worth noting. Yes, someone pointed this to me out
on Twitter after the fourth game. It's been thirty five games.
We didn't get the thirty six because of ECU Oregon
being canceled, and it was four and no when I
was I was alerted to it. It's twenty seven and
seven and one currently, and that trend is first half unders.
(39:10):
Now why is the question? Yeah? Go ahead? I mean,
well I think there are plenty of three theories, but
go ahead. I mean rock fight was thrown a lot
the term coming into the tournament, and it's been it's
been a bolder fest. I mean, for whatever reason, these
games have started off incredibly tense, incredibly kg, as the
British would call it. They're just not showing their full
(39:32):
ability to start the game. Why is that? I think
there's several reasons, but more importantly, the most important I
think is we didn't have this tournament last year. All
eyes of the nation are on this tournament like it's
never been before. It's in a new venue that has
never been before. It's it's with a new style that
we've never seen before. And I think all of it
leads up to the incredible amount of nerves that it's
(39:54):
just taking a while before these games kind of break
through the ice and find some rhythm. They've been InCred
doably low scoring early they've been the first half has
been scoring five points less than expected both teams combined.
That's significant on a total of sixty, you're going on
average fifty five. That's just it's it's very it's very insane. Well,
(40:15):
I'll tell you that we always know that there is
tension and there is pressure when this tournament starts. There
are there's they're self in post pressure. These are young
guys in twenty years old, etcetera. And I remember last
year when we were bringing back sports with no fans,
people would ask house that affect things. You and I
(40:36):
both thought it could affect a total under because with
nobody in the stands or I know there are some people,
but it's not the same. You've got to kind of
bring your own energy. The rest are gonna call as
been he files all those things. But when you add
it all up, whether it's the sight lines, whether it's
some familiarity living in a bubble, pressure, the fear of
getting COVID, knowing you gotta get tested every day, all
the distractions anyway it slices. The question will be whether
(40:58):
this trend continues. Tony Mailer said, they don't really need
to adjust alliance because the players haven't taken advantage. I
love under trends for that exact reason. Tody Miller, I'm
so glad he said that, because it's it was my
suspicion all along. Whereas if someone something's going under a clip,
the market's gonna adjust like that. It's gonna be immediate
because Joe Schmo and it with his six pack and
(41:20):
a beer is gonna be throwing money on the over
and he's gonna be winning, and he's gonna be doubling
up and he's gonna love it the under. The exact opposite,
everyone is like, oh man, I just hope they start scoring.
I hope they overstart coming in and they don't realize
the opportunity that they have right now. Now. I don't
think it's gonna be for the tournament, this trend. I do, however,
think and select spots, especially if teams are playing in
(41:40):
new arenas that they're not used to. You can go
ahead and look at it, and I have one for
you tomorrow. Lucas Oil Stadium has gone under under under
every game that's played there. It's a huge, vacuous, spacious
football stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and they're trying
to play basketball games in it. With about ten tho
fans or so sprinkled around. It's a very odd, small
(42:04):
environment where the games are going under. Next. Next up
Houston Rutgers tomorrow. I love the under sixty one and
a half in the first half. Neither of these teams
have ever played in Lucas Oil Stadium. I expect a
very low scoring start to that game, and I expect
to make some money on it. All right. The other
prop that Tony and I talked about was the accumulative
total of the sum of the seed to the final four.
(42:26):
An issue. The prop is ten and a half. I
want to talk about that in just a second. But look,
you've got you see an eleven seed against Abilene Christian
and fourteen seed. They got Ohio a third teen seed.
They were my best bet today winning at right. Whoever
wins that game Cratons a five seed, So you're going
to have some larger seeds emerge talk about the likelihood
(42:46):
that it falls under that number or goes over that
number based on past history. Well about ten minutes is
my birthday here on the West Coast, and I was
thinking about asking for this prop to come in and
cash and make me a lot of money. But I'm
gonna say of it because it just seems like such
a guaranteed thing that I wouldn't want to waste my
birthday wish on it. Nine of the last ten years,
(43:07):
this number, the cumulative some of these final four teams
has been over eleven twelve, I mean nine times of
the time. And I think this is just the way
college Bastimbal is now. There is no dominant teams. I
mean maybe outside of good Zaga there so much parody.
Grand Canyon could easily be Iowa on a given day.
We just saw Abilene Christian Do take care of business
(43:29):
against Texas. The college basketball is different, and I think
this number is ten years old. I think it should
be twelve and a half thirteen and a half. I
think it's an easy winner for us if you see
this prop out here. I like the over alright excellent work.
Mackenzie as also, and of course your best bet tomorrow,
first half one under in the Houston game, and you
(43:50):
know it would surprise me with with their defense. All right,
that's gonna wrap it up for tonight. Shoe by the way,
not for nothing. Uh, just so you know. Uh, the
last time the Chicago was in the Final four, the
cumulative total was sixteen. So they're still alive. Uh, they
could be in And I want to thank Tony Miller
for joining us tonight. As always, if you get to Vegas,
(44:12):
get down to the Golden Nugget, you'll have a blast.
Eight more games on the slate tomorrow, Plenty of high
jinks to happen. That's gonna do for this week's edition
is straight out of Vegas on Bernie Fratto. Next up
Jason Martin, the Man from Nashville. Keep it locked right
here Fox Sports Radio. Did you know Amazon provides ways
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We're onto the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and
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(01:04):
you value your time outside of work, juggling family, school, friends,
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head to Amazon dot com slash apply. Amazon is a
(01:27):
proud equal opportunity employer. Mama, what does the chicken say?
Draft Draft? Really? Di raft Draft? You're not gonna get
it all right. Just make sure you know the big stuff,
(01:47):
like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the
right seat for their agent's eyes. Get it right visits
n h s A dot gov slash the Right Seat,
brought to you by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
in the AD Council. Don't listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well,
after seven hundred and thirty days, it's back. We were
(02:09):
robbed last year, but it's back. I've always said sports
are the greatest reality show, and you can script everything
about the ending. But when it comes to March madness,
that goes double. And now the eternal question who can
execute the fundamentals with poise under pressure consistently for six
(02:30):
straight games. And on that note, welcome back to another
award winning edition straight out of Vegas, The Weekend Adaptation.
I'm Bernie Fradiwer com to you alive from the Farmers
Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios called one eight Farmers to
switch and you could save on your auto insurance. What
else you gonna do with your phone the next few minutes?
(02:51):
Look at pictures of food. Your friends eight again, call
one eight eight Farmers for a quote. We are tonight.
We take a large bite out of the March Madness
playbook and in a minute I will give my dissertation
as to who and why root for what and why
(03:11):
I think there are only five teams that can win
it all. And about fifteen minutes will be joined by
legendary sports book director Tony Miller of the Golden Nugget,
and he'll give a peek what's going on behind this
busy weekend in Los Vegas. Later on, after Brian Filey's update,
we're gonna continue to talk big dance doings with plenty
of information for the whole family. I'll give you some
(03:32):
stats and figures that you might get a kick out of.
And of course we close down the show with macin
on sports and plenty of data that has already been
compiled after the first two days of the tournament, actually
the first three days, remember it started Thursday, with the
playing games that you're gonna find surprising sports or entertainment.
But they're more than that. They are shared experiences such
(03:54):
people want to talk about them. You've come to the
right place. We've got a lot to talk about tonight.
This is straight out of Vegas, the pre game show
you always wanted. And as they say in Richard Patino, Minnesota,
it's going to be lit. Before we jump in, I
want to take a minute to welcome in our newest affiliate,
our six hundred affiliate at Fox Sports Radio. That would
(04:17):
be Fox Sports Radio one or three point five FM
and ten am the game in Spokane, Washington. And yes
they are home of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the team I've
got in my Fox Sports Radio tournament bracket to win
it all. I would just say this, it's OK and
welcome to the family. We're happy to have you. That's
(04:38):
Fox Sports Radio one or three point five FM, ten AM.
The Game our six hundred affiliate and the annals of
Fox Sports Radio. Now, when Selection Sunday hit the airwaves
last week, it was like the closest thing to normal
and over year water cooler buzz the next day erupted.
When it comes to March, Matt This and the conversation
(05:02):
and bracketology, the subject matter is usually boiled down to
two things. One who we think will win and who
are rooting for to win? Now, See how don't I
said this earlier? I don't really have a rooting interest
because I always root for the story, the best story,
the ones you'll be telling over that same water cooler,
you know, for the next forty seven years, like this one,
(05:26):
you know, prior to the nineteen seventy seven n c
A Men's basketball tournament, which is commonly known as you know,
the Big Dance March Madness, the late great Al McGuire
you might remember he became a great announcer after his
coaching career. At that time, he was the head coach
of the Market They were called the Warriors then Market
Warriors Will He announced suddenly right before the tournament he'd
(05:46):
be stepping down from his perch, effective at the end
of the tournament. It came as a shock to all
because first the timing, did the diabolical McGuire, who had
been at the helm for Marquette for twenty two years,
have something up a sleeve? Was he, in fact, you know,
trying to fire up his team. He's the only coach
that was ever ejected from a final four game, so
(06:08):
you know it was a It was a little off,
but in a good way. But he never won the
national championship, the coveted national championship, and most believed he
wouldn't retire until he reached the promised land, so report
I masked. A reporter asked him at the press conference, al,
is this employ for you to fire up your team
so you can go to winner? Notpe McGuire said, we
know we have no chance to win this thing, but
(06:30):
we might be like a cockroach and employ the spaghetti.
Don't be surprised if we fall in and mess it
up for somebody else. And when the fourteen rank Marquette
Warriors defeated Dean Smith's powerful North Carolina tar Heels sixty
seven and fifty nine and the finals two in it
all that year, it was universally agreed that McGuire had,
(06:50):
in fact shocked the world. That win came in Al
McGuire's final game as head coach, and it gave Marquette
the program. It's loan national championship. It was madness. Now,
back then I did have a rooting interest. I was
actually rooting for Almadwire. He's one of the most interesting
people you'd ever want to meet. Accomplished, successful, influential. In fact,
(07:13):
as I said earlier, he went on to have a
great broadcasting career after his coaching days, and his stock
and trade with signature quips like if you go into
a bar and two two patrons are scoring off to fight.
The guy who takes off his jacket, he's not a
tough guy. But the guy who takes off his watch,
he's a tough guy. But I digress. Well, I don't
have a rooting interest. I do have opinions. I'm paid
(07:34):
to have opinions, so I give them. Frankly, I don't
think we've already had a ton of upsets. All right,
we'll get to that a little bit later. But I
don't think when we get down to the nitty grady
there's gonna be a lot of madness. I think it's
gonna be more of a chalk tournament. I think there
are only five teams who can win it all. So
let's dive in Gonzaga. I think this is Mark Fu's
(07:59):
best team. Five straight Sweet sixteen, one possession from beating
North Carolina for all the marbles. A couple of years ago,
they hammered Iowa, Kansas Virginia six wins of ten plus points.
And I know what I just said as a strong
statement because they've had, you know, first round picks like
Ruy hatchermur and Brandon Clark. That was the team a
(08:19):
couple of years ago after losing to North Carolina in
the national title game in but the Bulldogs have never
had a group with this volume of talent, depth and efficiency.
I mean they shoot fifty from the field. If you
play them in Mandy Man defense, come at him with
his zone, they'll shoot. They're led by Jalen Sucks. He's
a projected top five pick. Anytime they get on the floor,
(08:42):
he can be the best player whenever he wants to be.
Corey Kisspert, He's the West Coast Conference Player of the
Year made of his three point attempts. He'll be a
lottery pick most likely Drew Timmy. He's their center. He'd
be the number one player for n of the teams
in the country. And if they lock up against Illinois,
I believe they'll beat Illinois as much as I like
(09:03):
Illinois and Kofi Colburn, Coburn will have to play defense
against Drew Timmy, and I think to dream Drew Timmy
will drive him nuts and that'll be different in the game.
They also have a transfer from Florida named Andrew Nemard.
He is one of the reserves, considered the fourth best
player on the team, and he has the only triple
double on the team this year. And so when you
(09:24):
know he has been on the floor as a key
component when they beat Kansas and West Virginia and Virginia
and Iowa. So interesting storyline. Obviously, there are a number
one undefeated overall seed and you all know by now
they're the only under check that the only undefeated team
to win it all was Bobby ni Indiana Hoosiers that year.
(09:48):
There were no duke in Kentucky in the tournament. This year,
there's no duke in Kentucky in the tournament. Dijav all
over again. When we're gonna find out, But It's not
gonna be easy. I've actually got them playing Baylor in
the finals, and you can make a case, uh and
Baylor can win it all. I don't think they will,
but they can. And you could make a case that
no coach Scott Drew he inherited chaos in a situation
(10:11):
that could have been worse. He took the program over
in two thousand three that they were dealing with a murder,
improper payments, severe n c A sanctions. But since then
he's Scott Drew was turned Baylor into a perennial contender
last season. I wish we had had a tournament last season.
Baylor won twenty three in a row during a significant
stretch this season. It's one regular season loss was at Kansas,
(10:35):
days after the team had returned from a twenty one
day pause. Jared Butler, Davian Mitchell, McKayle, Teague, their studs.
You cannot rule out the Baylor Bears. The Illinois fighting
a lion I and they've got a very interesting matchup tomorrow.
Agean's sister Jean and during a three game stretch late
(10:56):
in the season, Illinois beat Nebraska. Was constant in Michigan
by twenty three points, and that's when people started to
really take notice because Iowa Dessumi broken nose at all
shooting from the three point line. He's award and award contender.
He's definitely an NBA prospect. He didn't even play in
those games. That's why I brought those games up. So
(11:18):
Illinois is not a one man team. I mentioned Kofi Coburn.
He made sixty seven percent of his shots inside the
ark during Big Den play. That's big time. They got
a great freshman who's really emerged named Andrea Carbello, averaging
sixteen points a game. The last time that Illinois was
a number one seed, well it was two thousand five.
(11:39):
They made it to the finals, lost to North Carolina
the title game in two thousand five. This group has
a chance to make a similar run. A lot of
people have them in their brackets as winning it all
all right, uh I I think Alabama can win it
all too. I love coach day notes. He's a Detroit guy.
(12:01):
He's an analytic s guru. He focuses on threes, layups,
free throws. Very athletic and outstanding defensively. They're communicating switch well,
switch very well. They're gonna be a load for any opponent. Okay,
you got six five John Petty, you got Herbert Jones,
the SEC player of the year. Bama plays with incredible pace.
(12:21):
They shoot thirty threes a game. They can play small ball,
and they use its top ten tempo to beat teams
in transition. And they also made of their three pointers
this year. And did I mentioned they were the SEC's
most efficient defense. That's a good conference. They won the
SEC regular season and tournament titles, and they've only lost
(12:43):
one game since February six that was on the road
at Arkansas. Another team I don't like, I love. I
believe they can win it all. And this sort of
completes my final four. He's a Houston Cougars. I love
Kelvin Sampson. They locked up a number two seed after
they just blew through the a C with just three losses.
(13:07):
They have an incredibly hard nosed brand of basketball. They
can play bullyball, but they can do a lot of
other things too. They ranked in the top ten and
adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency and per Ken Palm. If
you believe in Ken Palm, and I do. Since two
thousand two, when college basketball analytics really started to get
(13:28):
to the mainstream, and Ken Palmeroy started his site. Since then,
seventeen of eighteen n c H champions have ranked in
the top twenty in offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. Now
four teams fit that criteria this year. Gonzaga, which is
first on offense twelve on defense, Illinois which is seventh
(13:49):
and sixth respectively, Michigan which is sixth and fifth. But
I don't think Michigan can win it, not without Isaiah Livers.
He is to cole to that team. With Isaiah Livers
on the floor, Michigan is an elite offensive team. When
Isaiah Livers doesn't play, they're a very good offensive team.
(14:10):
I don't think they'll win it without Isaiah Livers, and
I'm not sure that they will with him. Houston is
also in that Ken Pomeroy group their ninth and eighth
respectively and offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. And by the way,
they're the number two offensive rebonding team in the country. Now,
I'll probably get hit male if I don't at least
(14:31):
mentioned the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They do have Kaid Cunningham,
probably the best player in the country. He's the projected
number one pick. He's a freshman phenomen Look at Oklahoma
State is gonna enter every game they play with the
single most talented player on the floor, and I think
they have to throw away everything to happen in the
(14:52):
first half of the season. Cunningham in Oklahoma State, they
they play like a top seed, and they've played like
a real contender. They hammer Texas and Texas tap, they
swept Oklahoma, they swept Or they beat West Virginia twice.
And all those things happened before the last month of
the season when Oklahoma found themselves playing even better. Now,
(15:17):
this run feels a little bit like the stretch run
that Yukon had with Kemba Walker back Inn or maybe
even you know this is a comparison. It's a bit
of a stretch, But some folks have put them in
the same sentences Syracuse in two thousand three when Carmelo
Anthony was a freshman and they wanted all the top
(15:37):
of the bracket. Though you know they're strong, they've they've
you know, they've got a gauntlet to run through. So
you take them one step at a time, and you know,
Oklahoma's State's got to get it done tomorrow before you
can start talking about them winning it all or even
getting to the final four. I don't believe they'll even
(15:58):
get to the final four, but I would you remiss
if I didn't mention them. I know it's a short list,
but the way I see it is that they are
really the only four or five teams, six teams maybe
that can win those six games and consistently performed down
the stretch when it matters most star power, defense, rebounding,
(16:20):
crunch time, clutch, making your free throws like Oral Roberts did.
It's been a crazy three days in Vegas. It's everything
we hoped it would be. And Las Vegas, I will
tell you, is on the recovery. I'll have some data
for you and we're gonna talk about all that with
our guests coming up. Tony Miller with the Golden Mugget
(16:43):
Nugget sports book, legendary here in town and certainly a
fan favorite. I'm Bernie Fratta Were Comedy Alive from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame
show you always wanted, So don't go away. You're listening
to straight out of Vegas. Get the Great Verdi Frado, Folks,
Funderstruck adjective shocked and amazed by the power of fun
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immediately booked a cruise get Understruck starting at two nine
Carnival Shoes um Cruiser in US, always per person, double documency,
(17:29):
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(17:49):
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Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and
(18:33):
the ad Council. We're back on straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show You Always Wanted On Bernie Freder Company
Alive from the Farmer's Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios called
one in eight farmers to switch and you can see
a bundle on your auto insurance. Allright, let's welcome and
a gentleman. He's a fan favorite here in Las Vegas,
a good friend of mine, the legendary sports book director
(18:54):
over at the Golden Nugget Hotel, Tony Miller. Tony, how
are you, buddy, Bernie my man? How are you? Thanks
for having me on tonight. I'm so excited as I
know you are, because you go. But we go back
a year and we were robbed last season. Uh so
let's start with this because everybody around the country asks
me what is Vegas feel like? Now? I see foot
(19:14):
traffic everywhere. I'm guessing the handle is huge. Tony tickets
behind the counter and tell everybody what you're seeing. Oh, Bernie,
let me tell you and everybody out there. You know,
it's been a rough year. And it was this time
last year we shut down. It was so depressed and
right at march Man's time. But let me tell you,
we're back for a vengeance. Vegas was hopping hopping today
(19:35):
and yesterday and we were really busy here at the
Golden Nugget and it's like the old time. It was crowded,
it was exciting and it was fun to watch. And uh,
we're back, Tony. Uh. I know the handle in was
about three million. It's my understanding based on projections, we're
gonna break that this year. Is that true? You know, Bernie,
(19:56):
I think we will. Um. You know, I was kind
of worried about my numbers b down because of the pandemic,
because of all the sports books up and around the
country right now, but you know what, it hasn't heard
a thing. And uh, we were busy as normal, and
our handle was good, and our our wages coming over
the counter were big and strong, and it was great.
So I'm looking forward to I'm good handles over the
next couple of days, and maybe we will break that record.
(20:19):
Talking with Tony Miller, sports book director of the Golden
Nut in downtown Las Vegas, Tony, we've already had four
overtime games, a fifteen seed win to thirteen seeds win,
a fourteen seed win. We've had five seven point or
greater dogs were not right. Which of those outcomes has
been the best for the books and which not so good?
(20:42):
You know, It's funny, of all the years I've been
doing is Bernie with march manness, I've never seen so
many dogs come into play, and and the Benny public
is sharp to it. They've been playing a lot of
dogs with me. So uh. The Adelaine Christians tonight, you know,
with that game was straight up win or over Texas.
That was the big hit for the house. The bet
Abilene Christian on the on the money line. They bet
(21:03):
I'm on the on the on the side, and and
it's been going like that all day with the dogs.
Normally you make a lot of money when those guys
come in, but not so now, you know, so when
the favorites come in, like Zaga covers is actually good
for us tonight And normally we don't need Nzaga, but
tonight we're on their side. And it's been going back
and forth. But so far, mind side of the cows
(21:24):
of the sports book side doing very well, Tony. Another
trend since Thursday that's been prevalent first half unders like
seven and one the first three days. Do you look
for the market to adjuster? How do you counteract that?
You know, Bernie, the public loves betting overs and we
have not adjusted to it. And you're right, those unders
(21:45):
are coming in, but nothing yet. So as long as
the public he's you know, I'll put up straight straight
side the straight totals, and as long as the couple
of public he's playing the overs and and the favorites,
I'm gonna continue to go that way. And uh, I'm
not gonna adjust it down or up either way. Now, Tony.
One of the popular props my understanding in town has
to do with the final four prop the over under
(22:08):
of the cumulative total of individual seeds, and I think
it's ten and a half. This year. Is that correct?
That's that's right around there. Yes, So are you finding
action in any particular direction? And if so, what does
that reveal to you? Actually, it would be coming in
on the under and that's telling me that you know,
the public is looking for the number one seeds and
(22:29):
the number two seeds not to come in, and uh,
that might happen, buddy, I mean you know, or excuse
me to come in and that might happen. The way
he's looking right now, it's gonna be crazy though, because
if you're a dog better you like those long seeds,
the fifteens, the fourteens, the fifteens or whatever they're gonna
You're looking at the play right now. Something really weird
can happen this year. Uh, there's no question there's there
(22:51):
seems to be a lot of parody, although I think
it's more of that hasnt have not the show before us?
Arnie span your erin Torris. They'd asked a question Aaron
asked early year about an hour ago about prop opportunities
and some of the products that you have for March Madness.
And I'm certainly a where of the conference wind totals,
and I was joking around if you're holding a pack
(23:12):
twelve ticket, you're probably happy. If you're holding an A
C C ticket, maybe not so much. What are some
of the props and the products that people can bet
on during March Manage Tony, because you guys have been
really creative on that over the years. Yeah, we dow
up a bunch of things before the tournaments started. Unfortunately,
now they're down. We don't have a whole lot of
time to throw up many moore in between. But you know,
you can bet, you know, but besides who's gonna which
(23:34):
region's gonna win, and and things like that, you can
bet on player props and and all sorts of types
of totals that we throw up. There's a lot you
can do. But unfortunately, right now, once the tournament does start,
we take those down and they're real hard to put
up this time. We'll put next week. No, it's a
lot hotter. I realize that with the games, you don't
know who's gonna win and lose every day, so you
(23:54):
don't have time to really analyze it. Uh, which team
Tony and the tournament it's minused in it's Houston is
presenting the largest liability to the books. Yeah, Houston is
a big problem for us, especially up at the Golden Nugget,
because we do have a large Houston crowd that comes
up from Texas where our headquarters are. But Houston is
one of those teams we get beat up on, and
(24:15):
a lot of the long shops of course that people
shoot babes at the moon and try and get some
big money. Any of those guys should come in and
you know what I mean. So, but other than that,
the only other one that we really get stung on
is uh, you know, side Houston is Florida State and
Iowa and a little bit on Baylor. Now, the tournament
(24:36):
itself started on Friday this week, and I think it's
really cool that we're going to have a slate of
games eight on Monday. Has that effected the Handle either way?
Is it helped to hurt the Handle? In your view?
You know why, It's kind of helped to handle because
now you have two exciting days starting on Friday where
allot of the crowd from southern California come in Las
Vegas and whatnot. So it kind of raised my hand
(24:58):
a little bit having those two big days on a
Friday and Saturday. It's gonna help us out on Monday
with you know, normally we don't have any actions, but
there will be this week and uh, you know, come
to following week. We'll see what happens when they play
those later days. Also wrapping it up with Tony Miller,
legendary sports book director over at the Golden Nugget. Tony,
I think I know the answer to this question. But
(25:19):
when v CO had the first ever COVID cancelation in
the history of March Band, it's my understanding that if
you're on the game, all those tickets are great, it
as no action, but if you're holding VCU as a
futures ticket, that's just kind of a tough break, is
that right? It sure is, especially this late in the tournament,
you know. And we had a lot of action on
(25:39):
VCU journey year, and unfortunately those tickets do go down
as a loser. That's kind of the risk you take
by betting futures. And uh, if you had action on
the game itself, though, you do get a refund on
the game against Oregon, but the futures go down the drain.
Before we let you go, Tony, Uh, you guys do
a phenomenal job down there at the Golden Nugget. Take
(26:00):
a minute to tell the folks what you've got coming up.
Give yourself a plug, NFL draft, remainder of the tournament,
anything you like. You know, Downtown the Golden Nugget. Our
main thing is we're a freestanding book. I make my
own lines, and I put up a lot of things
other books don't put up. And uh, you know so
I kind of go out on the limb on some
of my lines. I'm a little bit different than the
big boys around town. So ipe you're ever downtown Las Vegas,
(26:23):
please stop buying, staying hello and take a look at
some of my unique lines. Do that you'll find Tony
one of the more engaging, one of the funniest guys.
Former ULV football player. By the way, you got any
eligibility left, Tony, I think they could use you. I
just wish I could run, all right. Thanks for staying
up played. Of course, this is probably just normal hours
for you, but Tony, thanks for joining me. Is always
(26:44):
have you want to get down the road? You take care?
Thank you? All right? That is Tony Miller, Sports book
director of the Golden Nugget at Downtown coming up, We're
gonna take you behind what's happening here in Las Vegas
in terms of who some of the wise guys have
been on so far, how they've done, some stats, factoids,
(27:05):
faction figures, and that's about all the alliteration I got left.
But first, well, let's coorta man. You know, he's got
a nickname here around the Fox Sports radio compound. We
simply call him Swipe. Right, let's go to Brant Family
with the latest. I thought it was clown, but I
guess I'm wrong. Abilene Christians Joe pleasant Bernie, the worst
(27:27):
free throw shooter on his team, confidently sunk two at
the line with one point two seconds left as the
fourteen seated Wildcats, stunning the third seeded Texas Long Orange
fifty three fifty two in the first round of the
n C Double A Tournament on Saturday. After the game
of speechless, Abilene Christian head coach Joe Golding, reacting to
his field good moment, I have no idea. I'm sure
(27:50):
there's a lot of positives are gonna come out of that. Man.
We just beat the University of Texas. You know, little
Ablen Christian out in West Texas built a program that
went uh total toll with the University of Texas and uh,
you know it's an incredible story. On social media, Oklahoma
head football coach Lincoln o'reiley tweeted, quote, congrats Coach Golding
on a great win, big win on the big state.
(28:12):
Close quote on the big stage. That is, Riley certainly
won't waste an opportunity to throw in a calculated jab
at his rival Longhorns. Also u c l a devastating
b y U seventy three to sixty two as Bruins
Johnny joosing thriving with twenty seven points, Oregon advancing past
the v c U without playing its game after COVID
(28:32):
nineteen positives infiltrated the Rams program. The number one overall
seed in this tourney, Gonzaga bouncing Norfolk State to fifty
five as the Zags get Oklahoma next, after the Sooners
twisting up Missouri seventy two to sixty eight, thirteen seeded
Ohio ousting Virginia sixty two to fifty eight as the
Cams losing the first round of the n C Double
(28:54):
A Tournament for the second time in three years. Maryland
flushing down Yukon sixty three to fifty four, or the
two seeded Iowa quelling Grand Canyon eighties six to seventy four, USC, Alabama,
Florida State, Kansas, LSC, Craton, and Michigan all winners against
their lower seated opponents on Saturday. And finally, in the
NBA Lakers, Lebron James is out for an undetermined amount
(29:17):
of time with a sprained dankle, and as I send
it back to Bernie Frado, it doesn't matter what injury
he's dealing with, he is always here. He is a star.
I think I strained my neck eating a pizza tonight, Brian.
But I'm good to go. Man, I play hurt. Man,
you're gonna battle. I'm gonna be damnit. Hey. By the way,
I'm not gonna let you go. It's so fast there, fellow,
(29:39):
your u C l A Bruins four and a half
point favorite against a plucky Abilene Christian And by the way,
I believe Christian not for nothing. Nineteen and six against
the spread this year. You're gonna want to make a
prediction for Monday. Yeah, you know, I'm going to say
that they are going to beat Ablen Christian by more
than the spread. What I am concerned about Bernie, the
Wildcats d fence. They forced north of twenty turnovers against
(30:03):
the long Horns. I'm concerned about that. It was a
low scoring game, and so I think it's gonna be
a lot grittier and a lot tougher for a Brewin
win than we would think. But I think U. C
l a. Is gonna prevail and get through to the
sweet sixteen, which none Bernie of the national media said.
So they deserve some humility, and they deserve to look
at themselves in the mirror. What a shock you're picking
(30:26):
U c l A. I just can't believe. I just
can't believe. All that's Brian Friendly, the silver tongue devil.
You hear him throughout the week, you yucking it up
with all the big timers. I'm Bernie fradiware Back. I'm
straight out of Vegas live from the Farmers Insurance Fox
Sports Radio Studios called one eight Farmers and you could
save a whole lot of something on auto insurance. Or
(30:47):
you heard Tony Miller there a minute ago. Vegas is
really rocking, and I will tell you it feels good.
You going to the casinos, folks, if you're you know,
listening to this around the country and one of our
inner in sixty filiates tonight and I know uh that
we've got listeners pretty much in every state. We've got
folks that listen in Australia, Ireland. They're really kind and
(31:07):
I hear from them. Look, come on out, it's time
of our million people have been vaccinated. Here. We had momentum.
We Vegas had momentum heading into the Big Dance because
just got done hosting five conference tournaments. Teams the Packed
Twelve of the Mountain West, the w c C, the
Big West, in the Whack. We're all just here two
(31:29):
weeks ago. All eighty five games were played. There were
no cancelations. By the way, the players that were here,
they took ten thousand cumulative COVID tests with no confirmed positives.
All eighteen teams who advanced to the tournament stayed healthy.
By the way, shows are returning to Vida's forty shows
have returned on the strip now. The positivity rate is
(31:51):
down below five. Those are really good numbers. Oh, by
the way, we've got the tournament to now. It's a
great place to hang watch. You heard Tony Miller. There's
so much to do, but I talked about loving the storylines,
and it was really sad to see what happened with
VCU today. You know, the bubble has a new connotation.
Used to be teams were worried about being on the
(32:13):
bubble getting in the tournament, not a concerned about living
in the bubble. Just asked VCU, Hey, yes, there is
no Duke or Kentucky. First time since nineteen seventy six. Now, coincidentally,
that's the year Indiana was undefeated. Deja vu, Gonzaga. You
you and LV couldn't get it done in Remember they
won it all in ninety They crushed Duke one three
(32:35):
seventy three in March of nine to win it off
for Jerry Tarkanian. That team had actually lost three games
that year, which atas State two thousand fourteen, they were undefeated.
They lost to Kentucky in a round of thirty two
Kentucky in two thousand fifteen, they couldn't finish the job.
They got beaten the UH Final four against Wisconsin. You
(32:56):
don't know what's gonna happen. We do know that there
are some things that are starting to emerge. For instance, Okay,
now all four number one are still alive and I
can tell you that the pre tournament favorite, which is Gonzaga,
now it's won seven of the last fifteen years, including
North Carolina, Villanova most recently, the number one seed. Any
number one seed hit won three straight at eleven of
(33:19):
the last fifteen, the last to do it for Genny. However,
only forty of number one seeds make it to the
final four. So if you picked forty four number one
seeds in your bracket, unless we're gonna uh Channel two
thousand and four all over again, you're probably gonna lose
one of them. Got to love the fact that sister
Jeane Dolores Schmidt, at a hundred one years old, was
(33:42):
able to attend her first game this year. They won
uh and and they get Illinois tomorrow is a seven
and a half point favorite, which I find a very
interesting line. I think uh, Illinois Chicago is getting a
lot of respect on that line because when Illinois played
Michigan on March second, they were only laying eight another
(34:04):
laying seven and seven and a half too Illinois Chicago.
And the bottom line is that I don't know if
Illinois Chicago and Michigan would be, you know, at one
point difference on a on a neutral floor. We've already
had wacky numbers hit us between the eyes when Ohio
State loss as a number fifteen seed on Friday. Prior
(34:26):
to that, prior to Friday, in the last forty five years,
number two seeds were a hundred and thirty two and eight.
That's only the ninth loss in forty five years by
a number two seed at the hands of a number fifteen.
Interestingly enough, it's happened five times in the last nine tournaments.
Too bad for ohiuse State. A lot of folks had
him in their final four. I didn't, and I'm going,
(34:46):
you know, winning a couple of games. Uh. Look the
five twelve thing, you know all about that. I would
just say this that this thing continues to be wide open.
I still think in Zaga is gonna win it all.
That doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Uh. Tony
Miller mentioned that the final four prop of ten and
a half cumulative. It's total if you add up the
(35:10):
four number, the four seeds, and who will be in
the final four. A lot of folks are are betting
the under. But if I use c l A crashes
the party and goes all the way to the finals,
like Larry Brown did win, they lost to Louisville. No
one expected that team to do much. U C. L
A is an eleventh seed. All right, let's let's not
(35:31):
get ahead of ourselves. But I will tell you you
can start to imagine things because look, in the last
forty eight hours, we've had four overtime games, a fifteen
seed win to thirteen seeds win, a fourteen seed win,
five seven plus point underdogs went out right. We've had
a COVID cancelation, a Sister Jean sighting, and how about
(35:52):
that crazy buddy behind last night channeling his inner Kevin Pittsnagle.
We're just getting started. We've got eight games tomorrow, in
eight games Monday. By Monday night, when you go to bed,
we'll know who the sweet sixteen is. Just like that alright,
coming up. You know him, you love and you can't
leave without them. Look, there are already two significant trends
(36:15):
that have awoken since these things tipped off Thursday, and
Mackenzie will have some analysis for you because if you
listen to my if you listen to my segment with
Tony Miller. Although one of these trends has been pretty dramatic,
the players apparently haven't really been taking advantage of it.
(36:35):
I'm Bernie Fratto. Where coming to you live from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame
show you always wanted, so don't go away. You're listening
to straight out of as one of the best in
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(37:18):
find out more. What grows in the forest trees Sure
no one else grows in the forest. Our imagination, our
sense of wonder, and our family bonds grow too. Because
when we disconnect from this and connect with this, we
reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think.
(37:41):
Find a forest near you and start exploring. I Discover
the Forest dot Org. Brought to you by the United
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are back on straight out of Vegas, Debree, game show
you always wanted. I'm Bernie Frattle, come to you alive
from the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio student US. Call
(38:01):
one at eight Farmers and you could save a whole
lot of something on auto insurance. Called Farmers Today for
a quote. Before we get to Mackenzie, I want to
thank my broadcast team back in Los Angeles. That would
be the Private Detroit Christoper Fette, Ryan Burr, singer co
host with Bill Benson of the legendary Swingshift podcast and Brian.
(38:24):
If he changed the letters Y and A to you
and I, his name would be Bruin Finley. But he's
still the silver tongue devil. Thanks guys for all that
you do. Could not do this fine show to a
great felnation without your help. All right, you know what
I mean. Love McKenley without him. Let's get to mackinam Sports. Mackenzie,
it's been a whirlwind forty eight hours and right out
of the gate. You've uncovered some pretty dramatic trends that
(38:47):
are worth noting. Yes, someone pointed this to me out
on Twitter after the fourth game. It's been thirty five games.
We didn't get the thirty six because of ECU Oregon
being canceled, and it was four and no when I
was I was alerted to it. It's twenty seven and
seven and one currently, and that trend is first half unders.
(39:10):
Now why is the question? Yeah? Go ahead? I mean,
well I think there are plenty of three theories, but
go ahead. I mean rock fight was thrown a lot
the term coming into the tournament, and it's been it's
been a bolder fest. I mean, for whatever reason, these
games have started off incredibly tense, incredibly kg, as the
British would call it. They're just not showing their full
(39:32):
ability to start the game. Why is that? I think
there's several reasons, but more importantly, the most important I
think is we didn't have this tournament last year. All
eyes of the nation are on this tournament like it's
never been before. It's in a new venue that has
never been before. It's it's with a new style that
we've never seen before. And I think all of it
leads up to the incredible amount of nerves that it's
(39:54):
just taking a while before these games kind of break
through the ice and find some rhythm. They've been InCred
doably low scoring early they've been the first half has
been scoring five points less than expected both teams combined.
That's significant on a total of sixty, you're going on
average fifty five. That's just it's it's very it's very insane. Well,
(40:15):
I'll tell you that we always know that there is
tension and there is pressure when this tournament starts. There
are there's they're self in post pressure. These are young
guys in twenty years old, etcetera. And I remember last
year when we were bringing back sports with no fans,
people would ask house that affect things. You and I
(40:36):
both thought it could affect a total under because with
nobody in the stands or I know there are some people,
but it's not the same. You've got to kind of
bring your own energy. The rest are gonna call as
been he files all those things. But when you add
it all up, whether it's the sight lines, whether it's
some familiarity living in a bubble, pressure, the fear of
getting COVID, knowing you gotta get tested every day, all
the distractions anyway it slices. The question will be whether
(40:58):
this trend continues. Tony Mailer said, they don't really need
to adjust alliance because the players haven't taken advantage. I
love under trends for that exact reason. Tody Miller, I'm
so glad he said that, because it's it was my
suspicion all along. Whereas if someone something's going under a clip,
the market's gonna adjust like that. It's gonna be immediate
because Joe Schmo and it with his six pack and
(41:20):
a beer is gonna be throwing money on the over
and he's gonna be winning, and he's gonna be doubling
up and he's gonna love it the under. The exact opposite,
everyone is like, oh man, I just hope they start scoring.
I hope they overstart coming in and they don't realize
the opportunity that they have right now. Now. I don't
think it's gonna be for the tournament, this trend. I do, however,
think and select spots, especially if teams are playing in
(41:40):
new arenas that they're not used to. You can go
ahead and look at it, and I have one for
you tomorrow. Lucas Oil Stadium has gone under under under
every game that's played there. It's a huge, vacuous, spacious
football stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and they're trying
to play basketball games in it. With about ten tho
fans or so sprinkled around. It's a very odd, small
(42:04):
environment where the games are going under. Next. Next up
Houston Rutgers tomorrow. I love the under sixty one and
a half in the first half. Neither of these teams
have ever played in Lucas Oil Stadium. I expect a
very low scoring start to that game, and I expect
to make some money on it. All right. The other
prop that Tony and I talked about was the accumulative
total of the sum of the seed to the final four.
(42:26):
An issue. The prop is ten and a half. I
want to talk about that in just a second. But look,
you've got you see an eleven seed against Abilene Christian
and fourteen seed. They got Ohio a third teen seed.
They were my best bet today winning at right. Whoever
wins that game Cratons a five seed, So you're going
to have some larger seeds emerge talk about the likelihood
(42:46):
that it falls under that number or goes over that
number based on past history. Well about ten minutes is
my birthday here on the West Coast, and I was
thinking about asking for this prop to come in and
cash and make me a lot of money. But I'm
gonna say of it because it just seems like such
a guaranteed thing that I wouldn't want to waste my
birthday wish on it. Nine of the last ten years,
(43:07):
this number, the cumulative some of these final four teams
has been over eleven twelve, I mean nine times of
the time. And I think this is just the way
college Bastimbal is now. There is no dominant teams. I
mean maybe outside of good Zaga there so much parody.
Grand Canyon could easily be Iowa on a given day.
We just saw Abilene Christian Do take care of business
(43:29):
against Texas. The college basketball is different, and I think
this number is ten years old. I think it should
be twelve and a half thirteen and a half. I
think it's an easy winner for us if you see
this prop out here. I like the over alright excellent work.
Mackenzie as also, and of course your best bet tomorrow,
first half one under in the Houston game, and you
(43:50):
know it would surprise me with with their defense. All right,
that's gonna wrap it up for tonight. Shoe by the way,
not for nothing. Uh, just so you know. Uh, the
last time the Chicago was in the Final four, the
cumulative total was sixteen. So they're still alive. Uh, they
could be in And I want to thank Tony Miller
for joining us tonight. As always, if you get to Vegas,
(44:12):
get down to the Golden Nugget, you'll have a blast.
Eight more games on the slate tomorrow, Plenty of high
jinks to happen. That's gonna do for this week's edition
is straight out of Vegas on Bernie Fratto. Next up
Jason Martin, the Man from Nashville. Keep it locked right
here Fox Sports Radio. Did you know Amazon provides ways
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