70-62-2 on NCAAB last season and went up 8.95 units
38-40-1 this season down 29.95 units
Tennessee/UNC/Virginia Tech/Virginia Parlay risking 10 units to win 9.92 units. Iowa struggles defending the paint. Tennessee’s offense is great at scoring down-low. Cincinnati had problems getting into the paint once Iowa started pressing, but when they did get inside they scored. Iowa made enough 3s and pressed well enough to rattle Cincinnati for the win. Tennessee won’t let that happen. Iowa has no one that can guard Admiral Schofield. UNC got “lucky” here because I think Utah State was the tougher matchup for the Tar Heels. UNC scored 95 points against Syracuse’s zone. Washington runs a zone defense. UNC is shooting under 30% from deep in postseason play. They shoot better today and get the win.
Virginia Tech played Liberty in an exhibition game this season and won by 16. This is the first time VT has played another school from Virginia in the NCAAs. Liberty’s Caleb Homesley had 30 points in their win over Mississippi State. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kerry Blackshear of Virginia Tech will be too much down-low for the Flames. Also, Justin Robinson felt “better than expected” for VT.
UVA plays an Oklahoma team that was red hot in the first round. The Sooners have already made it further this season than they did with Trae Young last season. Trae Young hit the game winner last night in the Hawks win over the 76ers. UVA struggled in the first half against Gardner-Webb, but they turned it on in the second half to avoid losing to a 16-seed for the second time. Oklahoma lost by 20 to Wisconsin. UVA is a better version of the Badgers. I don’t think the Sooners have a matchup advantage anywhere on the court, take the Cavaliers.
Duke -13 for 7 units. UCF has Tacko Fall and that’s about it. VCU struggled against them because VCU doesn’t have a big man taller than 6-foot-8. Tacko said he will not allow Zion to dunk on him.. why would you say that? Has he seen Zion play? UCF coach Johnny Dawkins was a Duke player and long-time assistant. Dawkins was the 1986 national player of the year for Duke as a senior. Zion will be the 2019 national player of the year as a freshman. Fran Fraschilla tweeted: “In the minds of Jay Bilas, Tommy Amaker and Coach K himself, there might not be a Duke dynasty without the commitment of Johnny Dawkins to the Blue Devils in 1982. The hoops world will come full circle on Sunday.”
Plenty of storylines in this game, but Duke’s depth and ability to limit UCF’s inside presence gets them the double digit win.
Buffalo at +163 for 7 units. Buffalo is one of the best offensive teams in college basketball. Senior guard C.J. Massinburg played great in the first round for Buffalo. Jarrett Culver’s shot selection has been suspect this season in the Texas Tech games I have watched. Culver should drive over and over again in this one. If he settles for 3-point shots, Buffalo should consider themselves lucky. I think this will be a close game and there is value in the underdog.