Zack Cimini
Atlanta vs. Milwaukee
Pick: Atlanta
A high point spread exists Friday as the Hawks travel to the Bucks. The reason for the stretched line has to do with the Hawks star player in Paul Millsap missing action with an injury. With the Hawks recent poor play with Millsap I see value here on an overcompensated injury line. Grab the Hawks.
Harry Bondi
NORTH CAROLINA (-7) over Butler
The combination of the ACC’s dismal performance in the Big Dance and the fact that the Tar Heels failed to cover against Arkansas on Sunday has led to some real value here on the Tar Heels as the public once again overreacts. The bottom line is the Butler got a dream draw in facing Winthrop and Middle Tennessee State to get to the Sweet 16, but this is a major step up. Not only is NC 21-7 ATS in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed but they hold a HUGE advantage on the boards tonight as they come in ranked No. 1 in the country in rebound margin (13.1) while Butler is 149th (1.0). The Heels got their scare in Round 2, so expect a fully focused effort and an easy win here tonight.
Bruce Marshall
Suns / Celtics Under 219
Phoenix looks in dump mode, with SU and spread losses last six after last night's blowout setback at Brooklyn (Blowout? Brooklyn?), and suiting up only 8 players due to myriad of injuries earlier this week. With Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight having been shut down for the season, it leaves Leandro Barbosa and Jared Dudley (and maybe Ronnie Price?) as the only guys not on a rookie or 10-day contract that are still playing for the Suns! Without much firepower, Phoenix also "under" six straight.
OC Dooley
Butler / North Carolina Over 155
Due to politics the Tarheels of North Carolina were forced to play their initial pair of NCAA games inside the state out "South" Carolina which arguably created a more intense atmosphere for the "visitors" who had to step up their defensive intensity just to survive (including the final 12 points in last weekend's victory versus Arkansas). It was last weekend when North Carolina senior guard Joel Berry was nursing a knee injury sustained a few days prior and ended up shooting just 2-for-13 from the field. With extra days to rest Berry will arguably be much more effective for the Tarheels who enter tonight on stunning 10-3-2 "under" the totals run despite the offense in those 15 games putting up on average more than EIGHTY points per contest. The winner of this game will face either UCLA (nation's top-ranked offense) or up-tempo Kentucky which will bring with it a much higher total than this particular tilt. Butler "pushed" the total las time on the floor (139) which snapped a 3-0 "under" the total run