Bob Balfe
Minnesota -1.5
Injuries are part of the game and unfortunately are the reason why teams don’t advance this time of year. Michigan State has a great coach as we all know, but they lack the experience and playing time together to win this tournament. Minnesota has flown under the radar most of the year and I like them today because they are a powerful and physical team that should take advantage of the lack of rebounders on the court for Michigan State.
Wunderdog
Brooklyn vs. Dallas
Pick: Brooklyn +11
Brooklyn is still playing hard at 2-3 straight-up, and 3-2 ATS the last five games, winning twice as a dog. Brooklyn point guard Jeremy Lin is averaging 17.3 points over the past three games. They won 122-109 win at Memphis as a +10 dog. They are a big dog again to a Dallas squad that prefers a slow pace, last in the NBA in scoring. Dirk Nowitzki owns modest season averages of 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds. He is no longer able to carry a team over a string of games and has just six 20-point outings all season. The underdog is also 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
BUSTER SPORTS
Weber State at Eastern Washington
Play: Eastern Washington +1
The Eastern Washington Eagles head to the semi-finals of the BIG SKY tourney and have a date with Weber ST. The Eagles had an easy victory yesterday over Sacramento ST. and they have been playing some great basketball of late winning 6 out of their last 7 games. Weber St. also had an easy time of things in their first game of the tournament winning by 20 over Southern Utah. That was only Weber St.'s 2nd win in 6 games and we believe that Eastern Washington is the better club here. These two clubs split the season series but a closer look and you will see the game that Eastern Washington lost by 3 points they shot 26% from the 3 point line and had only 7 FT's compared to Weber St's 22. We believe Eastern Washington will get a better shake in Reno tonight. Backing our selection is the fact that Weber St. are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games and the fact that the Eagles are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games.
VEGAS SYNERGY
North Carolina -4
The New York and ACC basketball faithful are treated to a big Friday Night event in Brooklyn when Duke and North Carolina (-4, 154) hook up at Barclays Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET in a rematch of last weekend's event that took place in the Dean Dome.
Tonight's league tournament event between the two ACC strongholds, Duke and North Carolina, is the 245th meeting in the rivalry. In the first of a Friday Night ACC doubleheader the fifth-seeded Blue Devils are fortunate to be playing. The Blue Devils got past the Louisville Cardinals by an 80-77 margin in the quarterfinals Thursday afternoon. Duke took advantage of poor free throw shooting by Rick Pitino's crew and held on to earn a spot in tonight's semi, a rematch against the 'Heels.
Last Saturday’s 90-83 loss at North Carolina saw Duke manhandled in the paint. The trio of Blue Devils stalwarts, Jayson Tatum, Grayson Allen, and Luke Kennard don't match the size and depth of Roy Williams' Tar Heels.
The UNC strength, their size in the paint, has dominated on the glass all season and Duke has no answer for the Heels easy second chance points, their transition offense or the bigs in the paint.
Tonight's semi in Brooklyn is North Carolina's to lose and we are betting against that.
MIKE ROSE
Seton Hall at Villanova
Play: Seton Hall +10.5
The Pirates 82-76 outright win and cover as 2.5 point underdogs to Marquette yesterday afternoon moved Kevin Willard’s squad to a very impressive 5-2 SU but bankroll killing 2-4-1 ATS tallies. They lost to both Stanford and Florida, but picked up wins against Quinnipiac, Hawaii, California, South Carolina, and the Golden Eagles. Since getting trounced by Nova for the second time this season, Seton Hall has gone on to win each of its L/5 games and scored a solid 70-64 outright win at Hinkle Fieldhouse against Butler.
There’s something to be said about getting hot this time of the year. Seton Hall is most definitely that, but it still ranks out the lesser of these two teams and has gotten its doors blown off in both regular season meetings with the Cats. Still, linemakers have installed the defending champs as gargantuan favorites and bettors are still sprinting to the betting window to back them after what they just did to the Johnnies at a 76% clip. Neither of these teams are all that deep, but the Hall could catch a break with Mr. do everything Mikal Bridges possibly not playing or feeling the after effects of a stomach virus that only allowed him to get a minute under his belt yesterday afternoon. Should he be forced to miss, it would subtract a key rebounder from Villanova’s equation and allow Delgado to have an easier time of snatching loose caroms. Take the points and run with the Hall!
Bruce Marshall
Nevada -5.5
Fresno has matched up very well vs. Nevada this season, beating the Wolf Pack twice, with enough size on the interior to bother Pack PF deluxe Cam Oliver. Though we think Nevada can get its revenge because not only is it hard to beat a comparable team three times in a season, but the Pack right now seems to be playing with the sort of verve and energy of a tourney winner.
Brad Wilton
Your college tournament comp play release for Friday comes in the AAC as I like Cincinnati to name it against Tulsa.
Cincy with a chance to up their seeding stock come Sunday if they handle their business this weekend in Hartford, and in this quarterfinal meeting with the Golden Hurricane, they do just that.
The Bearcats have won 4 of the 5 conference meetings, including both this season. The last meeting saw Cincy romp Tulsa by a full 20 points back on February 18th.
Cincinnati has won 5 of their last 6 games heading into their conference tourney opener - they had the first round bye - and they have covered in 3 of their last 5 games.
Tulsa is still below the .500 mark at 15-16 for the year, and while they have won 3 of 5 since their last loss to Cincinnati, the Golden Hurricane are just 6-10 against the spread on the road for the year.
The Bearcats to show well in this quarterfinal meeting, as they roll to the comfortable double-digit win and cover.
4* CINCINNATI
Jack Brayman
Yes, Iowa State might have the more impressive resume, and finished 13-6 in tournament play, while TCU was 8-12, but the Horned Frogs are playing with more heart and I like their story better. Trust me, this is more than them beating Kansas yesterday.
And coming into this event, TCU has played better defense, allowing 70.8 points per game. It also beat Iowa State once this season, as the two split the series. So the Frogs know what to expect.
TCU had lost seven in a row before winning its first two of this tournament. I think it has one more in it, to get it done. Take the dog.
5* TCU
Eric Schroeder
My free play for Friday, is actually on a Saturday for my players on the east coast, as marketing executives from television networks have pushed the second semifinal in the Mountain West Conference to 9:30 p.m. pacific/12:30 a.m. eastern. Should be interesting, even though I'll still be up the road at T-Mobile watching the Pac 12 games.
I still like the Colorado State Rams against the San Diego State Aztecs, as I'm still not sold on Steve Fisher's bunch, despite the way it dispatched of Boise State last night. Malik Pope is impressive, but he can't do what he did last night, to these Rams.
I was more impressed with Colorado State's Gian Clavell, and think he is the better pure scorer, and will be all the Aztecs can handle tonight. He scored 30 points last night, in an 81-55 win over Air Force. Clavell topped the 30-point plateau for the third time this season, and fourth time in his career. Clavell, who averages 19.5 points per game, hit a blistering 62.5 percent (10 of 16) from the field, including 6 of 11 (54.5 percent) from the 3-point stripe. His game is tighter than the braids he sported last night.
Also, the 26-point margin of victory by the Rams tied for the third-largest win in conference tournament history. This team is on a mission.
This is a program that has been through hell and back this season, with off-court distractions surrounding coach Larry Eustachy. But his players have rallied around him, and you could see how much they want to be in Saturday's title game.
A well-rounded effort included Prentiss Nixon scoring 15, Emmanuel Omogbo adding 12 and Nico Carvacho scoring 10 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
It's time for San Diego State to go away. Its time has come and gone.
My free pick is Ram-tough!
3* COLORADO STATE
Brad Wilton
Friday NBA comp play is Minnesota as the home underdog against mighty Golden State.
Things in Dubs-Land could be a little better, as Golden State heads back out on the road after a Wednesday night home outright loss to Boston, and they head back out with 3 straight up losses over their last 5 games, and a money-burning 1-7 spread mark over their last 8 games overall!
Minnesota has won 5 of their last 7 games straight up, and better still, they are a perfect 7-0 against the spread in their last 7 games.
Series numbers also favor the Timberwolves, as Golden State may have won the last pair of meetings, but it is Minny that has covered in 4 straight and 7 of the last 8 series meetings between the teams.
The Warriors do have a huge Saturday night showdown in San Antonio on-deck, as the overall #1 seed in the Western Conference is now in play.
Take Minnesota plus the points to keep it tight.
1* MINNESOTA
STEVE JANUS
California vs. Oregon
Play: Oregon -8½
Play On - Neutral court teams as a favorite or pick (OREGON) - good 3PT shooting team (>=36.5%) against an average 3PT shooting team (32-36.5%), after game - allowing a shooting pct. of 33% or less. This system is 34-9 (79%) against the spread over the last 5 seasons. B
JOHN MARTIN
Dallas Mavericks -11
The Dallas Mavericks are coming on strong as they make their playoff push. They have gone 5-1 SU & 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall. They have been doing most of their damage at home, going an incredible 14-1 ATS in their last 15 home games. Now they play the worst team in the NBA in the 11-52 Brooklyn Nets, who will be without their best player in Brook Lopez tonight. Look for the Mavs to win this one by double-digits with ease.
BRANDON LEE
Indiana vs. Wisconsin
Play: Indiana +5½
The Hoosiers rolled over Iowa 95-73 yesterday and that was an Iowa team that was playing it's best basketball of the season. Indiana won that game thanks to their lights out shooting from deep. The Hoosiers went 12-20 (60%) from long distance. I like their chances of carrying over that hot shooting to today's showdown against the Badgers. Wisconsin was able to snap a 3-game losing streak with a win at home over Minnesota in their regular season finale, but the Badgers are just 2-5 over their last 7. I just don't think the confidence is there with Wisconsin and they are a team that can struggle offensively and don't exactly play well from behind. Keep in mind that the Badgers have struggled defending the 3-pointer, allowing opponents to shoot 40.1% from long distance on the road (38% overall).
ANDRE RAMIREZ
Ole Miss vs. Arkansas
Play: Arkansas -4½
Arkansas gave Ole Miss a beating this season. The bookmakers are trying to hold the line because of the public betting. The total is set at 159 points, and this bad for the books. Challenging the algorithms is dangerous, and the bookmakers are wrong. I like Arkansas to win by 8 points or more.
MIKE LUNDIN
Duke vs. North Carolina
Play: Over 154½
The North Carolina Tar Heels will take on the Duke Blue Devils in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament Friday night. We saw a high-scoring encounter when UNC defeated Duke 90-83 in North Carolina only six days ago, and I think points will come relatively easy for both teams tonight as well.
The over is 4-1 in the Blue Devils last five games as an underdog and 6-2 in the Tar Heels last eight neutral site games as a favorite. North Carolina has averaged 90.2 ppg in its five neutral site games on the season and the team has shot over 50 percent in both meetings with Duke this season.