Category Archives: NCAAB
Butler Bulldogs vs. Connecticut Huskies: National Championship Game Free Pick
 Butler Bulldogs (28-9, 20-13-2 ATS) |
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 Connecticut Huskies (31-9, 22-12 ATS) |
It all comes down to this. On Monday night, our Butler Bulldogs vs. Connecticut Huskies free picks will come to fruition, as one of these two teams will be cutting down the nets at Reliant Stadium as the 2011 National Champions.
In one corner, we have the Bulldogs. They are the first team from a mid major conference to make it to the Final Four in back to back seasons since the 1990-91 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, and even that team, which had an undefeated regular season in there in ’91, wasn’t able to make it to two straight finales. Butler has proven that it isn’t just a one year wonder any longer, and it has certainly been arguably even stronger this season than it was last year. The Bulldogs have stood some stern tests from some powerful teams, and you can bet, especially after taking down the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Round of 32, that there is no issue intimidation issues whatsoever about trying to beat a team that was challenged by Pitt all season long. As always, the men to really keep a close eye on are Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard. Mack was an absolute dynamo on Saturday night, accounting for five three pointers and a total of 24 points against the VCU Rams. For the first time since the opening round of the dance, Howard was in foul trouble against the Rams, but he was able to stay on the court, and he knocked down 11 big time free throws in 12 attempts to help lead the team to victory.
When push really comes to shove, one could make the argument that it is just as unlikely for UConn to be in this spot as Butler is. Sure, the Bulldogs have come out of a very tough West Region and survived against a slew of difficult teams after just barely even making it into the field of 68 as the Horizon League champs (though we tend to believe that they would’ve been in the field even had they lost the Horizon League Championship). However, the Huskies have won 10 games in a row, seven of which have come as underdogs, and all 10 games have come in a span of less than four total weeks. Kemba Walker continued his tear on Saturday, scoring 18 points to lead all scorers in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats, and though he wasn’t really the reason in the end why the team won the game, it is clear that it wouldn’t be in this spot without him. Walker has averaged 25.0 points per game in the dance to date, one of the highest marks in the entire tournament amongst players that played at least three games (BYU’s Jimmer Fredette being the primary exception). However, he has really gotten some help out of Jeremy Lamb as well. Lamb has scored in double digits in all 10 of these wins, which isn’t all that bad for a man that averaged fewer than 10 points per game coming into the Big East Tournament.
They say that every dog has its day. UConn has had its day in the past, but Butler hasn’t. These Bulldogs came up literally centimeters short last season of winning it all. This year’s version of the team will get the job done. Back Butler for your National Championship picks.
College Basketball Free Pick: Butler Bulldogs
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Final Four Live Betting Preview: VCU Rams vs. Butler Bulldogs Pick
 VCU Rams (28-11, 18-20 ATS) |
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Butler Bulldogs (27-9, 19-13-2 ATS) |
Never before have we had a game like this to make our Final Four picks on. Two of the most unlikely teams to ever play in the Final Four meet up in Houston on Saturday with a bid to the National Championship Game on the line, as the VCU Rams duke it out with the Butler Bulldogs.
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If you thought that the George Mason Patriots were great, you have to love what the Rams have done even more. Not only have they played one more game than their CAA brethren, but they also beat five teams, all of which have come out of power conferences, and save for an OT win against the Florida State Seminoles, they have won all of their games by double digits as well. This team has already knocked down an amazing 49 three point field goals in five games in this tournament, more than some teams will put up in an entire month. Joey Rodriguez is proving to be the catalyst of the bunch out of the point guard spot, as he is knocking down triples and tossing the rock all over the court on a regular basis. Bradford Burgess has had some stretches in this tourney in which he has just been unconscious from beyond the arc, and even though he is only coming off of a nine point game against the Kansas Jayhawks, you can bet that he is going to be ready for more in this one. Jamie Skeen is the big boy in the paint to keep an eye on, and he is coming off of arguably the biggest game of his entire career. He dropped 26 points and 10 boards against one of the best front courts that the whole country has to offer in Marcus and Markieff Morris.
The Bulldogs have taken a very difficult road to reach the Final Four as well, as they have taken on the best possible road they could have faced to get here. They also have a huge flair for the dramatics, as they have played a game into overtime, one to a buzzer beater, and one to a questionable ending with some big time shots down the stretch. At the center of it all has been Matt Howard. No, it’s not always Howard doing the scoring, but he is the one that is coming down with rebounds and making gritty plays defensively. He has nerves of steel and can make the big shot as well. Don’t believe us? Check out how he did on the foul line against the Pitt Panthers or how he was in the right place at the right time against the Old Dominion Monarchs for the game winner at the buzzer. Howard has very quietly scored at least 14 points in six straight games. This team would be nowhere without Shelvin Mack as well. Mack has two massive outings against the Panthers and the Florida Gators, scoring a combined 57 points in those two games. With Gordon Hayward now playing in the NBA, Mack is the man that really has to step up into the role of the sharpshooter, and he has done so quite efficiently.
The Bulldogs might have the longest winning streak in the country at 13 games, but they aren’t the team that we are picking in this one. VCU just has it going on right now, and we have no doubt in our minds that this team can finish this job and bring the National Championship home to Virginia next week. The Rams march on to the finale.
Final Four Free Pick: VCU Rams
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Kentucky Wildcats vs. Connecticut Huskies: Final Four Free Pick
 Kentucky Wildcats (29-8, 16-15-1 ATS) |
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Connecticut Huskies (30-9, 21-12 ATS) |
Many people feel that the de facto National Championship Game will be played in the second Final Four betting battle at Reliant Stadium, as the Kentucky Wildcats meet the Connecticut Huskies.
Kentucky really has taken a very tough road to get here. This was a team that hadn’t played well on either neutral site courts or on the road until the SEC Tournament, but all of a sudden, it has rolled off seven straight victories and is on the verge of the National Championship. Head Coach John Calipari knows that this is a team with a ton of moxie and that team spirit that is needed to win it all, something that was missing from last year’s team, one that was arguably significantly more talented. Brandon Knight has had himself an up and down tournament, but when push comes to shove, he averaged 17.3 points per game, the most for a freshman in the country. Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, and DeAndre Liggins are the players that you remember on a regular basis on this team, but the man that has been forgotten is Josh Harrellson. Harrellson has really come on strong here in the dance this season, averaging over 14 points and nine boards per game. The question is whether this squad is still turning the basketball over too many times. Knight alone has averaged over three turnovers per game on the campaign, and the team as a whole is at 10.6 turnovers per game.
For Head Coach Jim Calhoun, there’s Kemba Walker, Kemba Walker, Kemba Walker, and some more Kemba Walker. There’s absolutely Kemba Mania going on in Storrs right now, as this junior has really shined on the biggest stages of them all this year. Though Walker only scored 20 points against the Arizona Wildcats in the Elite 8, he did scored 33 points or more three times since the semifinals in the Big East Tournament. This Elite 8 ATS defeat to the Wildcats was the first time since the regular season in which UConn was knocked off. However, thanks to Walker and the play of some of the youngsters on this team, the Huskies just continue to beat the college basketball odds and prevail. Jeremy Lamb is coming off of a 19 point effort against Arizona, and he is now up to averaging 11.1 points per game. Don’t kid yourself, though. He has had nine straight games with more points scored than that, and the arguably could be made that he is the difference maker for this team. Alex Oriakhi is going to have his work cut out for him on the glass in this one. He’s the team’s leading rebounder at 8.6 boards per game, and if he doesn’t at least approach a double-double in this one, the Huskies are going to be in some trouble.
It’s time for UConn to go. There’s a reason that this team was a No. 9 seed in the Big East Tournament. When push comes to shove, the Huskies are overrated as a No. 3 in this tournament, while Kentucky is probably underrated as a No. 4. The Wildcats have a legitimate team. Connecticut just has a star. Big Blue gets through this one.
College Basketball Free Pick: Kentucky Wildcats
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Colorado Buffaloes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: NIT Final Four Free Pick
 Colorado Buffaloes (24-13, 16-14 ATS) |
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 Alabama Crimson Tide (24-11, 17-13-1 ATS) |
Arguably the two biggest snubs from the NCAA Tournament have made the most of their chance of getting into the NIT semifinals on Tuesday night, and the Colorado Buffaloes and Alabama Crimson Tide will meet in NIT betting action on the hallowed court of Madison Square Garden.
Isn’t it a tad ironic that Colorado is the only team of the 12 in the Big XII that is still playing basketball right now? The Buffs were absolutely the most questionable snub from this year’s Selection Committee, and they’re proving it here in the NIT. Colorado absolutely rolled over the Texas Southern Tigers, Cal Golden Bears, and Kent State Golden Flashes to get here into the semifinals, but this is the first time that it is going to have to leave Boulder in the tourney. The good news is that Alec Burks and Cory Higgins are coming as well, and any time these two are in the building, opposing defenses are in trouble. Burks has dropped at least 25 points in all three of his NIT games this year, and he has really just put up some absolutely stellar numbers across the board. The crafty guard has averaged 26.0 points, 4.3 assists, 7.7 boards, and 3.0 steals per game in this tournament, and perhaps more importantly, he only has three turnovers in three games as well. Higgins has been a tad more quiet, as he has “only” averaged 20.0 points per game to help out as well.
Both of those men are going to have a tough time getting around an Alabama defense that is averaging allowing just under 60 points per game this season. The Tide have held all three of their foes to 67 points or fewer here in the NIT, and as a result, they are 2-0-1 ATS to show for their work in Tuscaloosa. Trevor Releford, a man that has averaged just 11.0 points per game this season, has nearly doubled that production in this tournament. He dropped 22 on the Miami Hurricanes in the 79-64 romp to get to this point, and he also had 20 points, six assists, and six boards against the New Mexico Lobos in the second round. JaMychal Green really needs to get going though, as he only has one double digit scoring game thus far. He’s one of the top players from the SEC this season, and the junior has averaged double digits in scoring in every season that he has played in Tuscaloosa. He also just recently announced that he’s coming back for his senior season next year.
Both of these teams are still screaming from the highest mountaintops they can find that they deserved to be in the dance, and they’ll both prove it again with a great show on Tuesday night. When push comes to shove though, the Colorado offense just has more shooters that can win tight games, and though we know that Alabama’s defense is great, the Buffs should rule the day and beat the NIT odds.
NIT Free Pick: Colorado Buffaloes
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NIT Final Four Preview: Washington State Cougars vs. Wichita State Shockers Pick
 Washington State Cougars (22-12, 18-13-1 ATS) |
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 Wichita State Shockers (27-8, 16-15 ATS) |
Both the Wichita State Shockers and the Washington State Cougars have done a great job navigating the field of 36 in the NIT, and these two teams meet up in the lesser version of the Final Four at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to decide which team will advance to the finale of the tournament.
Wazzu never really had a shot of going to the NCAA Tournament once it was knocked out of the Pac-10 Tournament by a game bunch of Washington Huskies that nearly ended up in the Sweet 16. However, this is just another situation where the Pac-10 is flexing its muscles, and the conference has had a great showing both here and in March Madness, where the Arizona Wildcats were just centimeters away from the Final Four. The Cougs dropped the Long Beach State 49ers, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Northwestern Wildcats up in Pullman to reach this point in the NIT, and Klay Thompson and company are going to love the chance that they have in this one to make another big time mark. Speaking of Thompson… It almost feels like he is a time bomb waiting to go off in a huge way on an unsuspecting foe. He hasn’t had a game like his Pac-10 quarterfinal duel against Washington quite yet in this tournament, but he is certainly capable. Thompson dropped 43 on the Huskies that day, and since that point, he has “only” averaged 21.0 points per game in this tournament. Of course, he has only sat out a total of eight minutes in three games, and he should really embrace these six days off that the Cougars have had.
Wichita State probably pulled off the most notable win in this tournament a bit over a week ago when it bounced the Virginia Tech Hokies from this field with an OT victory. Its offense, which was absolutely stymied in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, has shined in a big way, scoring an average of 79.0 points per game here in the NIT. All five starters had at least nine points in the win over the Charleston Cougars in the quarterfinals of this tournament, something that we should really get used to seeing. The Shockers have one of the most efficient offenses in the land, averaging 72.8 points per game on the season, but they don’t have a man that is scoring more than 11.4 points per game on the campaign. Eight different players are averaging at least six points per game, and it is that type of well rounded nature that gives WSU a great shot at winning the whole enchilada in this tournament.
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We’re a bit puzzled as to why the MVC regular season runners up are favored in this one. Under the bright lights of MSG, stars tend to shine, and there isn’t a star in this game that is brighter than Thompson. Back him to blow up in this one, as the Cougs beat the NIT odds with ease.
NIT Expert Pick: Washington State Cougars
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Kentucky Wildcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels: Elite 8 Free Pick
Kentucky Wildcats (28-8, 15-15-1 ATS) |
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 North Carolina Tar Heels (29-7, 16-16-1 ATS) |
After pulling off one of the biggest upsets in this tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats will be back in March Madness betting action on Sunday afternoon, as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Last season, the Wildcats were one of the jokes of the tourney, getting knocked out here in the Elite 8 by the West Virginia Mountaineers in absolutely shocking fashion. However, Head Coach John Calipari, after berating his team for most of the season, finally has the result that he has been searching for. The Cats needed a Brandon Knight with just a few seconds left to break a 60-60 tie to produce the biggest win that they have had in quite some time. Josh Harrellson has a huge game in the post against Jared Sullinger, one of the best big men in the country. He came up with 17 points and 10 boards, even though he had to avoid some foul trouble over the course of the game. DeAndre Liggins put up 12 points and had six rebounds as well. Doron Lamb had a pair of huge three pointers, while Terrence Jones had eight points and eight rebounds. None of these stats really are indicative of what this team can do, but as a team, it is clear that this squad has really come together.
North Carolina might have ended up “only” beating the Marquette Golden Eagles by 18 points, but this was never a game that was close. Marquette didn’t have a single assist in the first half, and it only scored 15 points… in relation to the 40 scored by UNC. The Tar Heels continue to get fantastic play out of their big men. Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and Tyler Zeller all had big time games for the third time in this dance. Barnes had 20 points and nine rebounds, continuing his march towards the NBA in his freshman campaign. John Henson was the dynamo on the defensive end as always, accounting for 12 boards and five blocks. Three of his 12 boards were on the offensive end of the court, and he accounted for 14 points as well. Tyler Zeller shot 10-of-19 from the field, and he had 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. These men just continue to be the heart and soul of this team, and as long as all three of them continue to play at a high level, the Tar Heels are going to be awfully difficult to stop.
These two teams play each other seemingly every single season, and they almost always end up coming up with a close encounter. Still, Carolina has covered seven straight in this series and has won seven out of eight SU. The 75-73 win at the start of this season was before the Heels really came together. They’ll finish off Kentucky once and for all and move on to the Final Four on Sunday.
College Basketball Free Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels
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Elite 8 Live Betting Preview: VCU Rams vs. Kansas Jayhawks Pick
VCU Rams (27-11, 17-20 ATS) |
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 Kansas Jayhawks (35-2, 18-16-1 ATS) |
The Kansas Jayhawks are the only No. 1 seed left in the NCAA Tournament, and they are going to be up against it on Sunday afternoon in Elite 8 betting action, as they take on the VCU Rams, the upstarts of the tournament.
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We’re trying to figure out how the Rams are still in this tournament. They had to go through their toughest task in the tourney on Friday night, as they played into OT against the Florida State Seminoles. However, a layup on an inbounds pass with just a few ticks left in the game and a blocked shot on Chris Singleton at the gun later, and Head Coach Shaka Smart has his team just one step shy of the Final Four. VCU knocked down a dozen three pointers on the day, and it shot 45.3 percent from the field against a defense that had allowed teams to just shoot 31 percent from the floor before that game. Bradford Burgess looked absolutely unconscious out there, especially from long range. He was 6-for-7 from downtown and 9-for-15 from the field in total, and he totaled 26 points. Burgess is now averaging 17.5 points per game, and he just continues to score more and more points with each passing game. Joey Rodriguez once again dished out 10 assists, and Jamie Skeen had 11 points and eight boards.
The Jayhawks came out of the blocks on fire, and they never looked back against the Richmond Spiders, and they have to think that they are the bona fide favorites to win this tournament now that they are the only No. 1 seed and one of three Top 2 seeds left standing in the Elite 8. It was the best game in the tourney for Josh Selby, who knocked down three triples and scored nine points in 17 minutes. However, the hero of this 20 point victory was Thomas Robinson, who scored 12 points and had 14 boards. Brady Morningstar knocked down four three balls and totaled a team high 18 points, while Marcus Morris had 13 points and seven rebounds. His twin, Markieff Morris only scored five points, while Tyshawn Taylor only had four points. However, Head Coach Bill Self really didn’t need all that much from his stars, knowing that his team played absolutely fantastic defense. If KU continues to play like this, holding teams down to 15.4 percent shooting from downtown and 33.8 percent from the field, there is no way that there is a team in the nation that is beating it.
However, the oddsmakers have just given Kansas too much respect in this one. VCU has just found ways to continue covering these spreads, and giving the Rams double digits seems relatively insane. Take the points, knowing that yet another upset is entirely possible.
College Basketball Free Pick: VCU Rams
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Butler Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators: Elite 8 Free Pick
Butler Bulldogs (26-9, 18-13-2 ATS) |
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 Florida Gators (29-7, 17-14-1 ATS) |
The Butler Bulldogs and Florida Gators have quite the history in the NCAA Tournament, having met twice before. These two will renew ties in the Elite 8 on Saturday afternoon in March Madness betting action in New Orleans.
Butler just keeps defying the NCAA Tournament odds over the course of the last two seasons. The Bulldogs came really close to winning the whole enchilada last year, and they really might have a chance to do it all over again this season. Believe it or not, Butler is the only team that has a chance to make it back to the Final Four this season, and if the Kentucky Wildcats get knocked off on Friday, it will be the only team that is back from last year’s Elite 8. The Bulldogs continue to get great contributions out of Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack. Mack struggled from the field against the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday night, but he did put up 13 points in spite of the fact that he battled foul trouble the whole game. Matt Howard stayed out of foul trouble for the second straight game, and as a result, he once again put up some huge numbers against the Badgers. Howard had 20 points and 12 boards, marking the fifth straight game dating back to the Horizon League Tournament in which he scored 14 points.
Five players are really going to account for the mass majority of the scoring, rebounding, and assists for the Gators unless someone comes off of the bench that we don’t see coming. Chandler Parsons put up 16 points, nine boards, and seven assists in the regional semis against the BYU Cougars, and though his shot really failed him at times down the stretch in regulation, he did hit the big time three pointer that put the game away once and for all in the OT period. Alex Tyus had an absolutely monster game in the paint, coming up with 19 points and 17 rebounds, and it felt like he had a million dunks and easy hoops right around the basket for the game. Erving Walker is one of the three guards on this team that can get the job done. He had 16 points, six boards, and five helpers on Thursday, while Vernon Macklin had nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kenny Boynton, the real sharpshooter of the crew, scored 17 points and had five assists.
Butler has done some remarkable things, but there is a point that we have to realize that this team just doesn’t stack up. The Gators are the real deal in this one, and they should march on to the Final Four with ease.
College Basketball Free Pick: Florida Gators
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NCAA Tournament Live Betting Preview: Richmond Spiders vs. Kansas Jayhawks Pick
 Richmond Spiders (29-7, 21-12 ATS) |
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Kansas Jayhawks (34-2, 17-16-1 ATS) |
The Kansas Jayhawks spent most of the season as one of the top two or three teams in the country this year, and now they are left in a bracket with nothing but double digit seeds. The first one up is the Richmond Spiders, the lone survivor of three Atlantic 10 teams. This March Madness betting duel is scheduled to tip on Friday just before 7:30 ET.
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The Spiders haven’t been pretty in their ways in this tournament, but no one asks how you get the job done, just whether you do. The Morehead State Eagles really didn’t stand a chance of beating this team on Saturday, as the Richmond defense was more than prepared to do some big time damage. Over the course of these last nine games, the Spiders are 9-0 SU and ATS, and they have outscored their opponents by a whopping 11.6 points per game. Justin Harper had the big game against Morehead State, as he battled on the inside with the great Kenneth Faried. Harper came up with 19 points and six rebounds. He also got a lot of help from Dan Geriot, who picked up 13 points and seven rebounds. The starters shot a whopping 50.0 percent from the floor for the game, and that parlayed with the great defense that kept the Eagles down to just 37.5 percent from the field was more than enough for a comfortable jaunt into the Sweet 16.
Kansas really didn’t look good in the first half against the Boston Terriers in the first full round of action in the NCAA Tournament, but whatever Head Coach Bill Self said to his team at halftime was definitely a great speech. It probably started and ended with a discussion about last year’s premature exit from the NCAA Tournament. Since that point, the Jayhawks have been on fire, and they really have had some moments of pure brilliance. They almost parlayed just a four point halftime lead into a cover on a 23.5 point spread against the Terriers, and they followed that up with a 14 point blowout in a game that was never really all that close against the Illinois Fighting Illini. This is an incredibly talented side on both sides of the ball, and when it is ticking there are few teams in the country that are going to be able compete. The bulk of the Morris twins on the inside is usually too much by itself for many to overcome, but when you add in the likes of Tyrel Reed, Tyshawn Taylor, and Josh Selby, you really have the makeup of a National Championship squad.
Still, the defense for the Spiders is good enough to hang around in this game for a good, long time. Kansas might not have any problems getting through this round when push comes to shove, but we just aren’t all that convinced that it is going to be a victory that comes by double digits.
College Basketball Free Pick: Richmond Spiders
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VCU Rams vs. Florida State Seminoles: Sweet 16 Free Pick
VCU Rams (26-11, 16-20 ATS) |
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 Florida State Seminoles (23-10, 16-10-2 ATS) |
In the most unlikely of Sweet 16 matchups that we could have dreamt of at the outset of the dance, the VCU Rams will look to continue their magical run in March Madness betting action against the Florida State Seminoles on Friday in San Antonio.
Welcome to the limelight, Head Coach Shaka Smart! As if the world hadn’t already seen enough of Smart to know that he is going to be one of the hottest head coaching commodities out there this offseason, he now has his team in the Sweet 16 for the first time in its history. The Rams have now covered seven straight NCAA Tournament games, and they were able to absolutely beat the snot out all three teams, all three of which came from major conferences in the Big Six. Three point shooting and an amazing full court press defense have been the key for Virginia Commonwealth. Though there is clearly a big time difference between the 59-46 win over the USC Trojans and the 94-76 win over the Purdue Boilermakers, the equation hasn’t changed any. Bradford Burgess has come alive as one of the top sharpshooters and rebounders in this tournament, as he has averaged 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game since beating the George Mason Patriots back on March 6th in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament. Joey Rodriguez has been an electric point guard as well, especially in his 12 point, 11 assist performance against the Boilers, and he is going to be the key to beating down the stout FSU defense on Friday.
FSU has already seen some fantastic three point shooting teams in this tournament, but both the Texas A&M Aggies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish really stood no chance against the teeth of this ‘D’. The Noles are long and athletic, and they can cause all sorts of problems for teams both on the inside and on the outside. The great news for this team is that Chris Singleton has to be more prepared now than he was last week for action, and he is sure to be able to give more than the 26 total minutes and five total points that he has scored over the course of his last two games. Singleton is battling a foot injury right now that has sidelined him for a month. However, the rest of the team is really stepping up, particularly on the defensive end of the court. Bernard James has had two big games in a row, scoring an average of 12.0 points and coming down with 8.0 rebounds per game. He also has six total blocks already, giving him a whopping 77 for the season.
This is going to be a tightly contested game from start to finish. VCU’s magic might be coming to an end, but there is no way that we can’t take these points. This is uncharted territory for both teams, and we’ll graciously take the 3.5 points on our side in what could be the trickiest game to pick on the board.
College Basketball Free Pick: VCU Rams
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