The NCAA Tournament is the best gambling event on the year. I gave out my gambling picks on the https://studentunionsports.com/men-of-march-24-hours-away-from-madness-we-filled-out-our-brackets/ but I will put late plays in article form here. I have been 4-3 on the NCAA Tournament so far, so lets keep it rolling.
UCSB vs Creighton
Spread UCSB +7.5
Total 137.5
The Gauchos came into this game scorching hot, winning 18 out of their last 19. UCSB convincingly won its three conference tournament games by at least eight points, and have gone 14-5 against the spread since the calendar turned over to 2021. Creighton is coming into the tournament fresh off a 25-point beatdown against Georgetown in the Big East title game. The Bluejays lack the interior rim protection to defend the Gauchos inside-out offense. USCB is incredibly efficient on the offensive end and they will have the best player on the floor in star JaQuori McLaughlin. The Gauchos have tons of high-major talent with Oregon transfer Miles Norris and former top 100 recruit Amandou Sow. The Gauchos are my favorite bet of the day and I got them winning this one outright.
Iowa vs Grand Canyon
Spread: GCU +14.5
Total: 144.5
Can lighting strike for 15 seeds? I think it can. GCU has the size and toughness to give Iowa trouble here. Grand Canyon sports one of the top defenses in the country. The Lopes rank 2nd in opponent field goal percentage, 74th in overall defensive efficiency, 15th in defensive rebounding percentage, and they are 13th in the country in defending the three. GCU has been playing their best basketball of the season. Iowa may be out of rhythm with the strict conditions from the bubble. If the Hawkeyes aren’t in sync Grand Canyon will be live to win. The Lopes are one of the deepest teams in country playing 10 guys. I don’t like Iowa’s depth since they lost Jack Nunge. This game will go down to the wire. Give me the Lopes.
Ohio vs Virginia
Spread: Ohio +7
Total 130:
Very public pick here and I got the Bobcats earlier in the week at 8.5. However, I think the Bobcats are live to win this game overall. Virginia did not practice all week after dealing with a Covid positive test during the ACC Tournament. Ohio will have the best player on the floor with Jason Preston. Preston is a legitimate first round pick, and his play reminds me a lot of LaMelo Ball.
VCU vs Oregon
Spread +5.5
Total 138
This is a game that I circled the minute the bracket was revealed last Sunday. We have an elite guard battle between Nah’Shon Bones Hyland and Christ Duarte. I think the Rams match up very well with Oregon here. They have good guards, and are used to facing the press in practice. Think this game goes down to the wire. I will take VCU and the points. The winner of this game will beat Iowa in the next round.
UCLA vs BYU
Spread +3.5
Total 139:
UCLA is the more talented team and they are getting points. I love what Mark Pope has done BYU, but I simply give the Bruins the edge here. We always see one of these first four teams win a game in the NCAA tournament, and I think this the game we see that happen. UCLA plays 3-4 interchangeable wings and they defend well when they can communicate. Matt Harms doesn’t really scare me. Watch out for Kentucky transfer Johnny Juzang to carry the Bruins in this one.
The pick: UCLA +3.5