::Wednesday:: 3/11 (317-306-0) -26 units

1* 279-265  

2* 29-31

3* 7-8

4* 1-1

5* 1-1

1* St. Bonaventure Bonnies -5.5

On paper, neither team is really going anywhere in this tournament, so what does this game really mean to them?  But the Bonnies want to send their coach into retirement with at least one tournament win.  Coach Schmidt has been @ St. Bonaventure since 2008, and really built the program.  His guys get up for him today.  Plus, their offense is actually a force, and a legit threat, especially from 3.  If they can get a few to go early, this could become blowout city.

1* Pittsburgh Panters +8.5

Pitt has a game under their belt in Charlotte already, so that's a big advantage, especially in a gym that won't have much of an atmosphere.  Pitt has now won 4 of 6, and NC St is coming in losers in 6 of 7.  Yes, the travel for NC St is essentially nothing, but that doesn't hold a lot of weight for me here.  The Pack only won by 9 in the only match up between these two this year, and that was on their home floor. 

1* Maryland Terrapins +11.5

Iowa has dropped 6 of their final 8 games, with both wins coming in Iowa City.  Maryland has the advantage of playing a game in Chicago already, and while it wasn't the prettiest showing of the year, they played Illinois really tough in the season finale, so maybe there is something starting to click for Buzz and the boys?  Iowa plays that super slow tempo, so asking them to cover a dozen on a neutral floor, in a do or die game, seems like a big ask. 

1* Iowa St Cyclones -11.5

ASU got their one win in this tournament, and now it's time to go home.  This will be a home game for the Cyclones, their last game was against this Sun Devil team, and they won by 21.  The talent gap is way to large here.  Lipsey is a great senior PG, Jefferson and Momcilovic are match up nightmares, Buchanan is a workhorse, and Toure is a defensive lock down. This game is over by half time. 

1* Loyola Chicago Ramblers +5.5

How do the Spiders respond to blowing a 30 point lead in their finale?  I'm assuming not so great.  They do have revenge from just 2 weeks ago on the table, but they've had a few chances at revenge and not cashed on any of them.  Loyola isn't good by any means, but they are showing signs of life at least.  They beat Richmond, then lost to SLU by 14, but bounced back with a big win over GW to finish it off.  I think they can aboslutely win this game, but I'll take the two possessions. 

1* SMU Mustangs +6.5

Louisville is playing the tournament without Mikel Brown, which is a huge loss.  They finished the season a little shaky as well, going 3-3 in their final six.  Now they get a Mustangs team that not only got to play in this gym yesterday, but they played well, and had a stress free day.  Louisville got the only regular season win on their home floor by 14, but Brown had 20 in that game, and the Mustangs turned the ball over 16 times.  I think they can win this game, and I'm gonna sprinkle the money line. 

1* UNLV Runnin Rebels -3.5

I get that Vegas is a great place to host this tournament due to the regionality of the conference, but UNLV getting to play the conference tournament on their home floor every year doesn't seem fair.  But I'm going to try and take advantage of it.  Wyoming beat UNLV in Laramie by 32 points.  The worst beating of the year for the Rebs.  But they've won 6 of 9 now, and I'm sure they haven't forgot about that ass kicking.  Payback time. 

1* Auburn/Mississippi St Over 158.5

If you want to watch defense get played, turn on a different game. These two rank 15th and 16th in defensive efficiency in the SEC, problem is, there are only 16 teams in the conference. The Bulldogs have surrendered 100 or more in 3 of their last 4 games.  Auburn isn't much better, giving up an average of 86ppg over their last 9.  The unfamiliar gym doesn't go in my favor here, but I think the defenses are bad enough, and the offenses go at a great pace.

1* Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks +2.5

Neither team had an easy night last night getting to the finals, but it was a much tougher road for the McNeese St Cowboys.  They played an extra 15 mins last night as they sneak by UTRGV.  That game ran late into the evening.  So the turn around for the Pokes is about 16 hours after playing 55 mins, while the Jacks played the early game, so over 24 hours rest after a normal 40 mins game. They split the regular season match ups.  Got to take the points in what should be the game of the day. 

Good luck STL 

@STLTarHeels

 Bol heels  smu / UNLV 

@STLTarHeels

 Nice Work....bol 

Ur on fire.....

1* Liberty Flames -5.5

The Flaming Libs lost 3 of their last 5 after starting conference season 15-0, but that was all after they had clinched the conference championship, so they just turned everything off for a month essentially.  Now they ramp it back up, and the Bears don't know what him 'em.  This Liberty offense can score at will, and they will do just that tonight, against a very weak Bear defense. 

1* Northwestern Wildcats +6.5

IU will have this crowd, despite NW being in Chicago, but I remember last year Chris Collins hammering the Big 10 for their hotel accommodations in Indy, so I wouldn't be shocked if he lets his guys sleep in their own beds for this, and just make 20ish min trip to the United Center.  There could be an advantage to that. But I also think IU is only good at Assembly Hall. They have three wins all year away from there. Now asked to win by 3 possessions vs a team that got to play in this gym yesterday, and has a guy in Nick Martinelli that can take over a game?? No thanks.

1* BYU Cougars -3.5

BYU just lost @ WVU by 8 just two weeks ago.  They had just lost Richie Saunders, so were still trying to figure things out.  I'm not sold that they have, but they at least looked the part yesterday vs K State.  I think the size of BYU inside is going to cause a lot of problems.  And Dybantsa has another big night.  He's pissed he didn't get POY.  

1* Florida St Seminoles -3.5

Similar to the cap from yesterdays Stanford game.  Cal has been on the East Coast for over a week now, and likely sleeping like shit.  Lucky them, they draw the hottest team in the ACC not named Duke in the first round of the tournament.  The Noles have won 9 of their last 11, with the losses coming to Miami and Virginia, two teams that will be dancing. The Noles won the only match up on their home floor by 2.

1* Tulane Green Wave +4.5

Memphis swept the regular season, with the latter win coming in each teams last game.  It was a one point win in OT in New Orleans.  Memphis also won on their home court by 2.  I'm not even sure Memphis wins this game.  Losing 7 of their last 8, I'm not sure anyone on the team wants to play anymore basketball this year.  Penny is 0-5 in his last 5 games as a favorite.

1* Colorado St Rams -6.5

The Rams were on an 8 game win streak before they lost the finale at home to Boise.  But I think that loss is beneficial to us tonight.  Getting the loss out of the way before the season was over allows Farokhmanesh to reset his guys, and get ready for a tournament run.  Fresno was flailing heading into the final stretch, winning in only 2 of their last 9.  They split the season series so no revenge for anyone. 

1* Minnesota Golden Gophers -5.5

Minny won the only meeting by 19 in The Barn.  They are vastly better than Rutgers.  Rutgers hasn't beat anyone not named Penn St or Maryland since the beginning of January.  Minny has the better coach, and roster, in a game where they will have more of the crowd in Chicago.  Rutgers can't wait to get to Spring Break. 

1* TCU/Oklahoma St under 157.5

OK st runs like crazy when they have the ball, but TCU will without question, slow them down and make them play out offensive possessions.  It's their calling card under Jamie Dixon.  The first time they met, TCU won 68-63 @ home.  The second meeting @ OSU was TCU win 95-92 in OT.  The more experienced team, and coach will control the pace of this game, and that's TCU.  I see a similar style game as the first meeting.