Sweet Sixteen picks for March 23
Today is the beginning of the Sweet Sixteen for college men’s hoops, the past weekend was filled with great games and I’m sure that trend will continue tonight. Here is our picks for each game
7. Michigan v 3. Oregon
Okay, first things first, Michigan is absolutely a team of destiny. The ESPN 30 for 30 of this is going to be academy award-winning. Winning the B1G Ten tournament, which is somehow now the best conference in college basketball(?) since the ACC is dead, surviving a plane crash together, winning the first round in practice jerseys,and then beating 2-seed Louisville to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Throw away every stat you have read/heard, ignore all the analysts, there is no way Michigan loses this game.
Lines: Michigan -1.5 O/U: 147.5
Picks: Michigan will cover, and I hate to do it but I’m gonna take the under. Oregon basketball will score less than Oregon football usually does.
4. WVU v 1. Gonzaga
It’s the Zag’s year. Maybe.
All of the sports world every year says it is the Zag’s year,and then they admit to that but then still think THIS YEAR is their year. As much as I hate to say, they’re probably right. Gonzaga has a great team with one of the best, if not the best, players in college basketball in Williams-Goss, as well as a great big-man in the next Polish Gazelle, Przemek Karnowski. The Zags are rolling, and I have no faith in WV in this game. Although West Virginia has been playing well recently, giving Iowa State a run for their money in their conference tournament, as well as a good Notre Dame team that lost in the ACC (RIP) tournament, I still think Gonzaga wins this one pretty handily.
Lines: Gonzaga-3 O/U:150.5
Picks: Gonzaga covers this and then some, as well as hitting the over
4. Purdue v 1. Kansas
This matchup has caused me to lose some serious sleep over the past week while there has been no college basketball on TV for eternity. Purdue has the best frontcourt in the country, and although they won their regular season conference title, they did not win the tournament as I’m sure they would’ve hoped to. Kansas has also been playing well this post-season, and at first their loss against TCU scared some people, I think that loss was a good thing and helped them grow as a team, maybe showing some weaknesses. It also doesn’t hurt to have Frank Mason who is an absolute stud.
I have to go with my gut on this one and go with Purdue, but if Kansas can find a way to limit Swanigan, Kansas could very well end Purdue’s season. The home court advantage for Kansas should play a substantial role as well, making this game that much more of a toss up. Vegas disagrees with me heavily, but hey, intangibles, or something, right?
Lines: Kansas-6 O/U: 156
Picks: The moneyline for Purdue is a juicy +200, which I would take if you want to risk it, but the +6 is a definite in my opinion. Despite the scoring ability of both teams (Kansas 83.4 PPG and Purdue 80.1 PPG) they have never played each other, and I am gonna go against the grain and take the under/
2. Arizona v 11. Xavier
Xavier’s Cinderella story thus far has been incredible to watch. And their demise is going to be just as fun. This is in my opinion the game of the night. Arizona is red hot after shutting down Lonzo Ball and beating UCLA in the PAC 12 Tournament Championship. However, Xavier is very well-coached, and is on just as an impressive of a streak, upsetting 6. Maryland and absolutely embarrassing 3. Florida State. Arizona is much better than either of those teams, however, and it will be very tough for Xavier to continue their dream run. Xavier didn’t have a great year during the regular season, and are clearly playing with pure passion and heart. I think that when it comes to Sweet Sixteen games against real powerhouses like Arizona, it’s going to take a bit more than that.
Lines: Arizona-8 O/U: 145
Picks: This is a big spread, especially for a tournament game, but I am a firm believer in Arizona and their game, and think they’ll cover, and then hit the over.
