College Basketball Friday – March Madness is Here (Barely)

No top 10 teams play tonight, but they all play tomorrow except for Gonzaga. Duke/UNC, Michigan/Michigan State, and LSU’s first game without the FBI-probed Will Wade all take place this Saturday. Stephen A. Smith called Will Wade a fool and that is way worse than anything the FBI can do. LSU has suspended Will Wade for making more “offers” to players than just a scholarship offer. The best game tonight is either Bowling Green/Buffalo or Minnesota/Maryland. There are some favorable spots, conference tournaments, and win streaks on the line tonight. VCU are going for 12 in a row at home against Jameer Nelson’s former school St. Josephs. Buffalo are going for 10 in a row against Antonio Daniels’ former school Bowling Green. Belmont are going for 14 against – I don’t know any athlete that went to Austin Peay, but you get it. Finally, Murray State are going for 10 wins, but they play Jacksonville State, who are going for their 9th straight win.

70-62-2 on NCAAB last season and went up 8.95 units

24-23-1 this season up 2.29 units

Murray State -6 at +103 for 3 units. Jacksonville State beat Murray State by 20 in Alabama this season. Now Murray State gets a chance at them away from Jacksonville State’s home. The Gamecocks shot the ball the best they have all season in that win over Murray State. They shot 63% in the second half! Murray State will make the defensive adjustments needed in this one. Murray State has the best player on the court in Ja Morant. The Racers have won all of their past 5 games by double digits. They get revenge tonight.

Loyola Marymount -5 at +106 for 3 units. Pepperdine can get hot from 3, but Marymount’s defense should limit them in this one. Loyola has not covered this spread in either game against Pepperdine this season (lost by 15 at Pepperdine). That will change tonight. Batemon and Scott have both been playing well for Loyola of late. Batemon had his worst game of the season at Pepperdine, he won’t play that poorly tonight. Marymount are on the outside looking in on the NCAA tournament bubble and they have to win this 2nd round WCC tournament game if they want to keep their season alive.