Marc Lawrence

If you LISTENED to ⁦@sportsxradio⁩ last Night- I told you @MarcLawrence had #UPSET of the week at #PlaybookSports - You can’t nail it any better than this! ⁦@MarchMadnessMBB⁩ - so #Glad my #Wife is in #Europe & didn’t have to #watch ⁦@UWBadgers⁩ #LOSE 1st round

ALL THE YOUNG GUNS: From Today's Playbook Coffee Club e-letter: tinyurl.com/tpurea88 This is one of the more insane stories coming out of the College Football offseason. Louisiana Tech, due to an ongoing lawsuit with Conference USA, is currently scheduled for games in both C-USA & Sun Belt for the upcoming season. The result is this 20-game They've even got a pair of doubleheaders scheduled on the road on Saturday, November 7, at Jacksonville State and Troy, and then another double-dipper on Saturday, November 28, at Western Kentucky and Georgia Southern. To help complete this Herculean task, they've reached out to Harry “Suitcase” Simpson's grandson. Forget strength of schedule — this is strength of luggage. No word yet on his reply. #LouisianaTech #ConferneceUSA #SunBelt

DOUBLE TROUBLE OKLAHOMA CITY over Minnesota by 14 Give Minnesota credit — the Timberwolves have treated their supporters well this season, especially on the road, where they're 18-14 SU. But tonight's assignment is a different beast altogether. This road stop lands them in the den of the defending champs, though, who bring a double-revenge edge and a dominant 72-15 SU / 52-35 ATS home mark over the last two seasons. And when revenge is in play? Forget it. The champs are 18-4 SU / 17-5 ATS at home with same-season payback, including 9-1 SU / ATS off a home game. You know exactly what to do. #NBA #OKC #Thunder

THEY SIMPLY DON'T LIKE ONE ANOTHER: The Big Ten Tournament started on Tuesday, but after being the No. 1 seed, the Wolverines won't play until today. The Maize and Blue's only blemish in the conference was at home against Wisconsin, meaning Michigan defeated every other Big Ten team it faced—including Ohio State twice. The Wolverines first hosted Ohio State this season and won 74-62. Michigan out-rebounded the Buckeyes 36-27, as the Wolverines' big men made a strong impression. The second game was in Columbus, where Michigan crushed Ohio State with an 82-61 victory. Aday Mara was the standout, scoring 24 points. Lendeborg added 14 points and 14 rebounds. Michigan totaled 43 rebounds as a team. For Ohio State, Bruce Thornton scored a team-high 16 points, but OSU committed 12 turnovers and struggled to contain Michigan in the paint. Ohio State has been playing very well toward the end of the season and is making a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid. The Buckeyes have now won four straight, including a victory over Purdue in Columbus. And Michigan is 3-24 ATS in games after allowing 80-plus points in the previous context. Given that, expect the Wolverines to fall to 2-10 ATS in their Big Ten Tournament openers today. #Michigan #OhioState #BigTenConferenceTourney

WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THERE IS FIRE: Things don't need to be overcomplicated; they don't need to be discussed further; they just are what they are. And then, sometimes, there is a situation like the Vikings quarterback position that can't be that simple or lack complexity. That being the case, Minnesota feels like a lock for Kyler Murray right now. Given Kevin O'Connell's track record with quarterback reclamation projects, it makes sense. Murray would provide a new dynamic to the Vikings as a dual-threat quarterback. The team has not truly had one at the position in some time, and with the weapons he would have around him, he could turn things around quickly. At the very least, he will bring some stiff competition to challenge J.J. McCarthy. Yep. Sometimes, where there is smoke, there is fire. #KylerMurray #MinnesotaVikings #NFL #NFLfreeagency

CHAOS UNLEASHED: From today's Playbook Coffee Club: tinyurl.com/tpurea88 NFL free agency hit the ground running on Monday, with 15 of Yahoo Sports' Top 25 free agents — including eight of the top 10 — landing new deals at the outset of the legal tampering period. How it works: During the two-day window that began on Monday afternoon, unrestricted free agents can negotiate with teams and reach verbal contract agreements. But nothing can be signed and made official until the league year begins today, Wednesday at 4 pm ET. Who's left, you ask? The top remaining free agents, and their rankings per Yahoo Sports, include DE Trey Hendrickson (1), QB Kirk Cousins (12), WR Tyreek Hill (14), OLB K'Lavon Chaisson (16), OT Rasheed Walker (17), WR Jauan Jennings (19), QB Aaron Rodgers (21), and QB Kyler Murray (25). Let the turnstiles continue. #NFL #NFLFreeAgency #PlaybookSports #CoffeeClub

CAL'S OUR MAN: Arkansas head coach John Calipari earned his 900th win on Saturday, overtaking Bob Knight for fifth-most in Division I men's history. If he were a professional bowler, it would be the equivalent of three perfect games –300, 300, and 300. He now ranks behind only Mike Krzyzewski (1,202 wins); Jim Boeheim (1,116); Rick Pitino (910); and Roy Williams (903). Calapari and Pitino are running neck-and-neck. Think about it- they would need to win an average of 30 games a season for the next 10 years to knock on Coach K's door. That's a tall, tall task. #JohnCalapari #ArkansasRazorbacks #MikeKrzyzewski

CAFE ITALIANO: Italy might have the best dugout setup for this year's World Baseball Classic. In the Italian WBC team's dugout sits a literal espresso machine for players and coaches to use at will. Yes, an espresso machine. Italy's baseball players can relax with a nice espresso between innings. How cool is that?! As far as the WBC goes, Italy's dugout setup might take the cake. If we played baseball, we would want to sit in Italy's dugout for the espresso machine. That's how you watch baseball... with a fresh espresso. #WorldBaseballClassic #Italy #Espresso

POT CALL THE KETTLE BLACK: At President Trump's 'Saving College Sports' roundtable on Friday, retired Alabama coach Nick Saban criticized how NIL deals and the transfer portal have shifted focus from athletes' education to cash pursuits. He argued that education best enhances players' futures, amid a crowd that included Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Trump teased an executive order to address NIL issues and support reforms like the SCORE Act. At the same time, online reactions split between accusations of past improprieties in Alabama and calls for structured revenue sharing. Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson weighed in on Nick Saban's stance against paying players. "Honestly, I don't get why he's even commenting on it. They gave my family and me $75,000 to commit, plus $10,000 a month to stay at Alabama." And Richardson is just the tip of the Alabama iceberg. Excuse me, Nick. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. #NickSaban #Alabama #TrentRichardson #PlaybookCoffeeClub

IT'S COMING SOON: Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, 36, acknowledged after the game against New Jersey that retirement is coming soon. Harden made his return to the Cavaliers lineup on Sunday, scoring 22 points in 36 minutes—both team highs—in a 106–102 comeback win over his former team, the Nets. Harden missed two games after suffering a fracture in his right thumb, an injury that he plans to play through moving forward. If Harden was feeling the effects of the injury, it didn't show much on Sunday. "I know it's coming soon. Hopefully, it's not too soon, but it's a reality. Everybody has to go through this at some point." The Cavaliers are 7–1 with Harden in the lineup after the win in Brooklyn. At 38–24, they remain in fourth in the Eastern Conference, but are in striking distance of the third-place Knicks (39–22) and second-place Celtics (40–20). At full strength, with Harden joining dynamic scoring guard Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt and the twin bigs of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen up front, Cleveland has one of the more formidable starting lineups in the NBA. It had better happen soon. Harden's eventual retirement is knocking on the door. #JamesHarden #Cavaliers #NBA

I DON'T HAVE HAIR BECAUSE OF THIS GUY: From today's Coffee Club e-letter tinyurl.com/tpurea88 Following Villanova's 32-point loss to St. John's at Madison Square Garden in New York, Wildcats' head coach Kevin Willard was asked about Rick Pitino's attitude at practice immediately after such a heavy defeat. He didn't hold back with his answer. "I'm not shit-ing you-- I don't have hair because of this guy," said Willard, who is bald and in his first season as Villanova's head coach." "I had a full head of hair when I started working for him. It's the most miserable experience in life. You fear for your life every day. Everyone laughs when I say that, but you think you're going to get fired. It's miserable." "As he's gotten older, he's probably become more of a cranky old [expletive] than he was when I worked for him, but you literally fear for your life," Willard said. "He walks into the facility at 6:30 a.m., and you've been there since 5:30, thinking you have everything right, and he comes in and asks you the one question you don't know. He's that intense. He always has been. He's got the most energy of any coach I've ever been around. I think that's why he has 900 wins and national championships- because he does it better and more intensely than anybody." Willard is in his first season at Villanova, where he has the Wildcats at 22-7 and in a position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. The 50-year-old Willard was previously the head coach at Maryland, Seton Hall, and Iona. His career head coaching record is 357-256, and he has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament. But he is only 1-9 against Pitino. #VillanovaWildcats @KevinWillard

THE KON MAN: It's a two-horse race, and one is closing like a freight train; the other is taking a breather. Who do you want? Dukie One or Dukie Two? Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel broke the NBA record for most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a single season, making his 207th on Thursday. He set the record late in the third quarter of a 133-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. The previous mark for most 3s hit by a rookie was by the Sacramento Kings' Keegan Murray, set during the 2022-23 season when he knocked down 206. The rookie star set the rookie 3-point mark with 22 games remaining in the regular season. Already three ahead of Murray (who played in 80 games as a rookie), he will likely put the record far out of reach. Both players are the only rookies to make 200 or more 3-pointers in a single season, topping the 187 Donovan Mitchell hit during the 2017-18 season. The current odds for the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year show a very tight race between the top two favorites: Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (the No. 1 overall pick) and Knueppel (a former Duke teammate of Flagg's). No Kon job here. We consider Kneupell the leading candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year. #NBA #KonKneupell #CooperFlagg #NBARookieoftheYear

BRING BACK THREE RIVERS: An NFLPA player report card leaked despite the NFL's efforts to suppress its publication. The Steelers ranked last, mainly due to the "lowest rated field by a wide margin." Facility investment, field maintenance, and locker room issues contributed to negative ratings. The NFL was successful in preventing the NFLPA from publishing the results of its annual player report card. But the league simply does not have the power to keep the results from getting leaked – and now Pittsburgh is getting raked over the coals by the information we got. The Arizona Cardinals finished 31st in the 2026 survey, after a last-place finish in 2025, and the Cleveland Browns finished in 30th, the same as in 2025. Miami ranked 1st for the 3rd year in a row. Little good that did the Dolphins. #NFL #Steelers #nflpa

DOWN GOES THE BEARD: Bringing James Harden in has been a major boost for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs are 6-1 since the blockbuster deal that sent Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for the 11-time All-Star. But a recent hand injury is starting to cast some doubt on how the team might finish down the stretch. Coming off a 20-point performance in Tuesday night's 109-94 win over the New York Knicks, Harden reportedly sustained a fracture on his non-shooting thumb that could put his status in question moving forward. Word has it Harden plans to play through the fracture. He was ruled out for the Cavaliers' game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, February 25, along with teammates like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, a game in which the hot Cavaliers lost 118-116. No long-term timetable has been set, but he is not expected to miss significant time The sooner Harden can get back on the court, the better for the Cavs. In his seven games with the team, he's averaging 18.9 points per game with 8.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds on 49% shooting. #JamesHarden #Cavaliers #NBA

IN THE TANK: The NBA's annual tanking ritual, in all its spirited glory, began this season in February, before the All-Star break. It happens as teams begin resting or limiting key players in close/winnable games, contributing to poor records amid a rebuild focused on draft positioning. Here are the top two Tankers as we head toward March... 1. Washington Wizards Record: 13-39 (No. 2 in draft lottery) Injuries of note: Trae Young (knee); Anthony Davis (hand); Alex Sarr (hamstring); Cam Whitmore (shoulder; out for season). Behold, the Washington (Tank) Commanders. You thought Trae Young was going to play anytime soon? The Wizards thought otherwise, announcing at the time of the trade that he's out indefinitely with a knee issue. And now star newcomer Anthony Davis will likely be sidelined for the rest of the season with a tricky hand issue. Adam Silver is itching to fine this team for tanking like he did Utah ($500K). 2. Utah Jazz Record: 18-38 (6th in draft lottery) Injuries of note: Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee; out for season); Keyonte George (ankle); Walker Kessler (shoulder; out for season). Silver dropped the hammer on the Jazz for a reason: They have the most to gain by tanking. Not only do they have to secure a top-eight protected pick, but BYU standout AJ Dybantsa is in this draft. If the pick falls outside the top eight on lotto night, it goes to OKC. #NBA #NBAtank

THIS GOLD'S FOR YOU: It was decades in the making. #USAHockey The men's hockey 2-1 OT win yesterday mirrored the women's gold medal game earlier in the Milano Cortina Olympics, when the U.S. women also beat Canada 2-1 in OT. It was a complete USA Hockey sweep over Canada in hockey golds—both decided in extra time and both on dramatic late goals. The thrilling, low-scoring defensive battle (with elite goaltending on both sides) delivered high drama and created new American hockey memories, echoing the spirit of 1980 without being an underdog "miracle" (both teams were top contenders with NHL stars). Team USA Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's 41-save gem (out of 42 attempts) was the backbone as Canada outshot the USA 42-28 in the contest. I only wish my good friend and hockey enthusiast, Brian Blessing, were still with us to savor the gold, which happened 46 years later to the day when Team USA beat the Soviet Union in the "Miracle On Ice." This one was for you, Brian ... and Johnny Gaudreau. #2026WinterOlympics #TeamUSAGold #BrianBlessing

STAT OF THE DAY: 2-1 #USAHockey The men's hockey 2-1 OT win mirrored the women's gold medal game earlier in the Milano Cortina Olympics, when the U.S. women also beat Canada 2-1 in OT. It was a complete USA Hockey sweep over Canada in hockey golds—both decided in extra time and both on dramatic late goals. Ironically, the US was the second favorite at 2-1 odds at BetMGM to win the gold before the start of the Winter Olympics. The thrilling, low-scoring defensive battle (with elite goaltending on both sides) delivered high drama and created new American hockey memories, echoing the spirit of 1980 without being an underdog "miracle" (both teams were top contenders with NHL stars). Team USA Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's 41-save gem (out of 42 attempts) was the backbone as Canada outshot the USA 42-28 in the contest. I only wish my good friend and hockey enthusiast, Brian Blessing, were still with us to savor the gold, which happened 46 years later to the day when Team USA beat the Soviet Union in the "Miracle On Ice." This one was for you, Brian ... and Johnny Gaudreau. #TeamUSA #WinterOlympics2026

Congrats to @MarcLawrence with his CBB 5***** Game Of The Month OUTRIGHT UNDERDOG WINNER on Duke + 2.5. Final Duke 68 / Michigan 63.

AI correctly confirms, 90 % of Sports Bettors lose longterm, 10% win longterm. The 10 % are Sharps / Legal Betting Syndicates with ' Work Ethic' above and beyond what it takes to enter and remain in the 10% year after year. @Josh_Insights has the work ethic required and shows the path of the 10% 'Sharps' group if your willing to work for it in below book, 'NFL Sharp Betting.' @amazon Highly recommended. We have read twice. Sharp Tools : Access to World Class Handicapping @MarcLawrence known as 'The Goods!' High Integrity Bet Splits from @VSiNLive @brentmusburger @Josh_Insights articles featured on @VSiNLive with Bet Split info. (noticed Josh's 9-0 streak ) Never be to cheap to invest a small amout of $ in your Sharp Tools. Roll up your sleeves, build your Daily Habits, Mindset, combine both for your updated Sharp Culture of Straight Play Strategy. Include Game & Money Management. Proof is in the pudding, in 2023 we placed 32 CFB and NFL bets the entire season, won 26. Accomplished by building / maintaining a filter for plays to flow through before bet application process. We have won the last 20/21 years. Not that hard if you learn the path in advance. Sharing my filter: 1) Apply ' The Goods' from @MarcLawrence DOGS Exclusively ( 2 ways to win) 2) Favorable Line Move(s) Early Public Betting vs. Late Sharp Syndicate Betting 3) Favorable Public % of bets Circa (Sharp) vs. DK ( Public) extract ' differentials.' 4) Favorable $ Handle Circa ( Sharp) vs. DK ( Public) = ' extract differentials.' 65% is benchmark Keep in mind, in most cases the Early Public Bettors get the shaft, while Late Sharp Bettors get the goldmine. Why? Because the Sharps are utilizing high integrity @VSiNLive Bet Split Info made up of new/ novice early bets to identify VALUE while ELIMINATING WHERE THEY SHOULD NOT BE. 'Parlays are the Cancer of Sports Betting.'

$35,000: That's how much money American athletes earn for each gold medal they win at the Milan Cortina Olympics, which ranks just 15th among the 25 countries that responded to USA Today's inquiry. Americans also get $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. Singapore, competing in its third Winter Games and still seeking its first medal, will award $788,907 for gold, the most of any country. Hong Kong ($767,747), Italy ($213,418), Poland ($211,268), and Slovenia ($162,672) round out the top five, while Sweden, Norway, and Great Britain are the only respondents that don't pay athletes anything for winning medals. On average across 25 nations that reported figures, payouts were about $123,700 for gold, $72,450 for silver, and $44,550 for bronze. Suddenly, “Medalist” golf balls by Titleist don’t seem all that expensive. #WinterOlympics2026