[fondybadger]

12:15 #13 Albany vs #4 Virginia -8.5
Last season Albany led UConn by 12 points in the second half, and I thought there was some potential for an upset out of Albany this season. If I remember right Inspekdah is an alumni of Albany and I'm going to take his statements to heart a bit more on the team than I do my own. Virginia's Singletary and Reynolds should give Albany's Wilson fits and create turnovers, while the 10 man rotation for Virginia will play an integral role. I think Virginia may have some struggles early, but will find themselves in the second half with greater depth and win this game SU. As for the the spread I think Albany takes covers.
PLAY: $250 Albany +9 -115

12:25 #10 Georgia Tech -2 vs #7 UNLV
To me this game comes down to youth versus experience. Georgia Tech normally starts two freshmen and no seniors, while seven of the top eight in the rotation are juniors or seniors for UNLV. Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young will have a lot of pressure on their shoulders as freshmen in this game, and I don't think they rise to the challenge. The aggressive defense for UNLV which is 18th in the country in blocked shots will cause fits and the 7.5 3's that UNLV hits a game will come at clutch times crushing Georgia Tech's spirit. If the young stars show up for Tech, UNLV could be in a bit of trouble. I personally am not a fan of Krueger's coaching and I don't see him making the necessary adjustments to get his team over the hump if they get behind early. Thus I'll keep things small.
PLAY: $100 UNLV +2

12:30 #15 North Texas vs #2 Memphis -17.5
As I said when I first started this thread I don't think there is two more shady teams in the country when it comes to college sports than these two. I hate taking either team as a favorite, and as BAR said they'll find some way to middle this game. There hasn't been a lot of line movement, so I look at that as a positive for taking Memphis. They're on a 22 game win streak and Joey Dorsey should have his way in this game against a weaker Mean Green interior defense. North Texas lost 8 games in the Sun Belt, so I don't have too high of expectations for them to keep this game close if everything is on the up and up.

PLAY: $100 Memphis -17.5

2:35 #11 Winthrop vs #6 Notre Dame -3.5
Winthrop is a sexy upset pick. I don't think they get the job done. It's a pretty bad matchup for Winthrop as Notre Dame can really shoot the ball from outside and their interior play leads to 81ppg. Notre Dame has four starters who average double figures so if one guy is off, any of the others can step up. Winthrop is a very solid team. They have experience, move the ball around, had a solid bench and plays defense and against different matchups I might have them in the Sweet 16. In this game it's a one and done as they won't stop Notre Dame.
PLAY: $175 Notre Dame -3 -110

2:35 #12 Long Beach State vs #5 Tennessee -7
Long Beach State is my Sweet 16 upset pick getting past Tenny and Virginia. The 49ers average 80.3 ppg and start five seniors who (and a total of seven seniors in the rotation). Aaron Nixon was the conference player of the year and Kejuan Johnson joined him on the first team. LBST averages eight 3's a game and really rely on a quick, frantic, pace as they have no true center on the roster. Tennessee seems to play to their opponents. They could handle Florida but struggled versus LSU and South Carolina. Tennesse ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense and shoot a dismal 65.4% from the foul line. The LBST team reminds me a ton of UWM from the past few years when Tenny coach Bruce Pearl was the coach. Maybe he knows how to stop it, but I don't trust him or Chris Lofton to make the adjustments that they need to win this game.
PLAY: $250 Long Beach State +8

2:55 #15 Texas A&M CC vs #2 Wisconsin -13
When the bracket first came out on Sunday I was a bit worried about Wisconsin's matchup of TAM CC. All I knew about the team was they were a high scoring team that had a ton of seniors on it. I'm assuming that Menifee will be attempting to guard Tucker but with Wisconsins swing offense TAMCC won't be use to the switching that they'll need to do. I think that Tucker and Landry down low for Wisconsin will cause the 7' Chris Daniels to pick up a couple of stupid fouls early trying to pick up the open man. TAMCC will try to force Wisconsin into an uptempo type of game, and we all know how much Wisconsin will be pushed around in their style of play. I don't think that TAMCC will be use to the style and aggressive defense that Wisconsin plays and Kameron Taylor will step up big from the outside for Wisconsin. Looking at past games this season, TAMCC has lost to Okie State by 22, Miss. St. by 24, UNLV by 10, and Purdue by 18. Wisconsins beat Pittsburgh by 14, FSU by 15, Georgia by 10, and their one common opponent Purdue by 5. I see no reason to worry about Wisky covering the 13 points. People may point to the Butch injury and say they're down their 3rd leading scorer, but I love the rotation (especially in this matchup) that it forces Wisconsin to play.
PLAY: $175 Wisconsin -13

3:00 #10 Creighton vs #7 Nevada
If Nevada can get past Creighton in the first round, which I really believe they can, I have them upsetting Memphis and Texas A&M advancing to the Elite 8 before losing to Ohio State. I'm not sure if anyone on Creighton can stop Nick Fazekas if it be under the basket or taking the 15 footer. Nevada's Marcelus Kemp's outside shooting will provide some much needed points against a stingy Creighton defense and it is my hope that Kyle Shiloh, Nevada's best defensive player, will be healthy enough to stop Creighton's Nate Funk.
PLAY: $325 Nevada -1


5:05 #14 Miami (Oh) vs #3 Oregon -8
I'd love to sit here and tell you that Miami could win this game, but I don't think they have a shot. Looking at Miami's non-conference schedule they lost to Kentucky by 11, Xavier by 15, Michigan by 6, and Cincy by 8. Oregon is better than any of those teams and have already beaten Georgetown and UCLA this season. Miami has a great scoring defense of 57.7 points a game this season, but they've got the worst offense in the entire field. Oregon's Aaron Brooks will take over this game and the fast pace Ducks will create all kinds of turnovers for easy scores.
PLAY: $325 Oregon -8

7:10 #12 Illinois vs #5 Virginia Tech -2.5 -115
PENDING - No feel for this game.

7:10 #16 Niagra vs #1 Kansas -19
Don't really have a whole lot to say about this game either except that I expect Niagra to play with a chip on their shoulder for being in the play in game. I don't think the upper class led team of Niagra will fold under the pressure and may even have a few brief leads in the second half. Kanas wins this games by doubled digits, but not without some struggles.
PLAY: $100 Niagra +19

7:20 #9 Purdue vs #8 Arizona -2.5
I know what I'll get from Purdue in this game. Landry and Teague will put up 30+ points and the rest of the team will struggle to find their rhythem. What I don't know is how Arizona will play. Shakur, Budinger, Williams, and Radenovic all have pivotal roles, and this could be one of those games were Arizona has a break out on the way to upsetting Florida.
PLAY: $175 Arizona -115

7:25 #13 New Mexico State vs #4 Texas -8
Durant will be way too much for the Aggies to handle in this game as Augistine and Abrams will contribute to the scoring load. I think NMST pressing defense may cause some fits early for Texas, but once adjustments are made, Texas will destroy a shaky NMST half court defense. Got to love seeing the line drop so much in this one as well.
PLAY: $325 Texas -8

9:40 #13 Holy Cross vs #4 Southern Illinois -7.5
Not much to say about this game except that SIU's scoring defense will put Holy Cross to sleep and Jamaal Tatum will put up the necessary points for SIU to cover. Sure Holy Cross has had some close calls in the past NCAA tournaments, but this is a different team and a different time.
PLAY: $175 Southern Illinois -7.5

9:40 #9 Villanova -1 vs #8 Kentucky
Two teams that finished the season going two opposite directions. Villanova was strong down the stretch while Kentucky lost 6 of their last 9. Villanova's freshmen Scottie Reynolds has matured during the season and I look for him to cause plenty of problems for Tubby Smith and Randolph Morris.
PLAY: $200 Villanova +1 & $50 Villanova -1

9:50 #16 Jackson State vs #1 Florida -28.5
I'm thinking that Florida won't be in blow out mode and will coast through their first round game winning it in the low 20's, after being up by that amount in the first half. Bit concerned as Jackson State lost by 30+ to any decent school they played this season, but with another game on Sunday for the Gators, look for them to call the Wolves off early.
PLAY: $100 Jackson State +28.5

9:55 #12 Arkansas vs #5 USC -2
I personally think Stan Heath is a lot better coach than Tim Floyd. USC has a relatively young team and Arkansas is putting it all together at the right time. I'm looking for them to carry over their momentum from the SEC run and watch as Beverley puts up the points and Hill has a block party for Arky as USC is sent packing.
PLAY: $100 Arkansas +2