If the First Four games are any indication for the rest of the tournament, we are in for a great weekend. We had 2 games go down to the final second with two missed buzzer-beaters and an annual Tom Izzo freakout. As a Michigan fan I should be on the snooty “HE PUT HIS HANDS ON A KID!!” side…but c’mon. The dude had his arm around him and the kid’s jersey stretched when he ran away like an unaccountable crybaby. The storming up the ramp and getting in his face before putting his hands around him again was terrible optics, but that’s coachin’ baby. Let’s get into the Victor’s region, which will begin on Saturday #GoBlue. If you want to see picks for today here is the Midwest Preview and the South Preview.
Saturday
12 Georgetown vs 5 Colorado(-6.5) (138) 9:15 AM CBS
All of the journalist dorks, filled with nostalgia are all over Georgetown for this “12 OvEr 5 UpSet”, but I’m not buying it. Georgetown beat the best-worst team in the nation in Marquette, a beat up Villanova team, a decent Seton Hall team (I’ll give them that one), and a Creighton team whose coach just related their program to a plantation…yikes. I’ve been pounding the table for the Big East all year, so I have to give them credit, but it feels like they’re just happy to be here. Congrats Patrick Ewing, you kept your job for one more year, but you’re getting bounced in the first round. I also love under 138 here.
13 UNC Greensboro vs 4 Florida State(-10.5) (146) 9:45 AM TruTV
Florida State scares me more than any other team in this region as a Michigan fan. This region is loaded with good teams between FSU, Kansas (I’ll concede, they’re good, but I still smell a rat with this Covid pause…), Alabama and Texas and Michigan will likely meet these Seminoles in the sweet 16. Call me boring, but I like under 146 again.
9 St. Bonaventure vs 8 LSU(-1.5) (144.5) 10:45 AM TNT
LSU is riding off a moral victory after only losing to Alabama by 1 after getting their shit pushed in to the tune of 40+ point differential during the regular season. LSU did put together some quality wins over Mizzou and Arkansas to help their seeding, but I think they’ll struggle with St. Bonaventure’s defense. Finally, I get to use my 8/9 underdogs are 26-10-3 ATS stat and agree with it. Bonnies +1.5.
16 Texas Southern vs Michigan(-26) (142.5) 12:00 PM CBS
Everyone is writing Michigan off to win this thing and I love it, be wrong and mad when your bracket is busted. I am concerned with how the offense will look without Livers, but maybe the team needed a little more time to figure this out in practice. I don’t like them -26, but I like them to go far. I’ll take Texas Southern +26 in this one.
15 Iona vs 2 Alabama(-16.5) (147) 1:00 PM TBS
Rick Petino’s absence from the NCAA was shorter than his “encounter” at an italian restaurant 10 years ago. I’m still shocked he was able to be around that much garlic and survive to tell the tale. Paying for players wasn’t enough of a stake to drive through the guy’s heart either. Are we supposed to be impressed that he led “another” team to the tournament? Iona has made the tournament 4 OF THE LAST 5 YEARS. They’ll lose this game too. Probably won’t be close, but I like under 147…this hurts me to type.
10 Maryland vs 7 UConn(-3) (130) 4:10 PM CBS
This is going to be a great game, and whoever wins will give the rest of the teams in this region a difficult matchup. I love James Bouknight, he’s going to be an absolute problem in this tournament. I’ll take UConn -3 and I like them to go a long way.
11 Michigan State…nevermind UCLA vs 6 BYU 6:40 PM CBS
I was going to say Michigan State barely beating an undeserving PAC-12 school doesn’t impress me near as much as BYU’s 10 point loss to Gonzaga in the WCC Final…but an undeserving PAC-12 team still doesn’t impress me. BYU had a couple quality wins against Utah State and San Diego State early on in the season and have been competitive enough against Gonzaga for me to like them. You could make this line BYU -10 and I’d still take them. Side note: both Mark Pope and Mick Cronin have a connection with 400 year old Translyvanian Rick Petino. Pope was on his ‘96 Kentucky team and hired Mick Cronin as an assistant at Louisville.
14 Abilene Christian vs 3 Texas(-9) (140) 6:50 PM Trutv
I had to look up how to spell Abilene Christian (I’m a dumbass, I know), but in the meantime I saw they were competitive against quality opponents Texas Tech and Arkansas. I was all over Texas, but I’m glad my stupidity made me do some research, so I’ll go with OVER 140!!!
SUBMIT YOUR PICKS YOU PEASANTS!!! After last night I’m all kinds of wet in my nethers for this weekend. Love you, bye.
The Morning Flush 