I apologize for the late post, I took my second Covid dose and it messed me up, so consider this my Michael Jordan flu game. It’s kinda bullshit I got symptoms after both doses, but I’ll take it over actually getting the damn thing I suppose. Anyway, after going 10-3 in the early games, BYU and Texas shit the bed to bring our record to 10-5 yesterday–19-12 overall in the first round. Just to recap, everything seemed normal in the first round, I lost another 12 over 5 pick between UCSB and Creighton, but hit on the Ohio upset. Maryland completely screwed over my bracket, I had UConn and James Bounknight going to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite 8 in my brackets. BYU reminded me how much I hate that school and why I can never trust them. Texas’s loss to Abilene Christian makes me worried there may be a Big12 bubble where we all thought everyone in that conference was really good, but in actuality they all just beat up on each other. I can live with going 19-12 in the first round, but I’m looking at the board today and tomorrow thinking our picks could get a first round bye in the NFL playoffs. Let’s do this.
Sunday
8 Loyola Chicago vs 1 Illinois(-6.5) (133)
I’m currently typing this in the first half of this game and Loyola Chicago is doing what I thought they were capable of: slowing Illinois down and making them play out of character. I do think in the second half Illinois will take control of this game and put up points, so I like over 133 here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Loyola Chicago is in this during the under 4 timeout.
9 Wisconsin vs 1 Baylor(-6.5) (136.5)
It’s bullshit they have the number 1 seeds playing this early in the morning, they’re just asking for upsets. I had a take lined up about how Wisconsin beatin’ the shit out of UNC demonstrated how good the B1G was in comparison to other conferences, but Purdue really pissed in my cornflakes. I still like Baylor, but if they struggle with Wisconsin, the Big12 bubble theory may be correct. I don’t see that happening, I have Baylor -6.5.
11 Syracuse vs 3 West Virginia(-3.5) (147.5)
I’ve been a fan of West Virginia overs all season long, but I’m not sure how I feel about it against this Syracuse zone. This is not a great matchup for the Mountaineers. I’m going to take under 147.5, but after the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an 11 over 3 upset here.
6 Texas Tech(-2) vs 3 Arkansas (140)
I was all over Texas Tech in my bracket, but I can’t believe they’re favored in this game. 140 is also a low total for an Arkansas team that is capable of lighting it up, so I’m not sure what Vegas knows that we don’t. This is a rat line, but I’ll take over 140 because I do think Tech is capable of winning this game.
10 Rutgers vs 2 Houston(-7.5) (132)
Houston beats the piss out of terrible teams, which we saw on Friday, but I don’t know what to think about this Rutgers team. I talked a bit about how it feels like a lifetime since they were ranked in the top 15 in Friday’s blog, but they played an equally polarizing Clemson team in the first round. I like Houston, Quentin Grimes doesn’t get the respect he deserves, they can fill it up, so I’ll take over 132.
15 Oral Roberts vs 7 Florida(-9) (149.5)
Oral (lol) Roberts warmed the hearts of Michigan fans everywhere when they upset Blowhio State in the first round. I’ve doubted them 3 games in a row (I had them losing in the semifinals of the Summit to South Dakota State), so I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll take under 149.5 instead of doubting the fellatios.
13 North Texas vs 5 Villanova(-6) (126)
I had Villanova losing to Winthrop in a 12 over 5 upset, but I’m terrible at predicting those. They actually looked pretty impressive in that game and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl stepped up on an injury-riddled roster. North Texas beat Purdue in what was basically a home game for the Boilermakers and are capable of slowing anyone down, hence the low under, but I think they’ll struggle against Villanova if Robinson-Earl can have half the game he did against Winthrop. I’ll take Villanova -6.
12 Oregon State vs 4 Oklahoma State(-6) (141)
Sometimes you have to put your hand up and admit when you’re wrong, so I’ll do that about the PAC-12. I live in PAC-12 country and never would have thought every school would’ve moved on in the first round. Good for them, I still think Oregon State is the worst OSU left in this tourney, I have Oklahoma State -6.
On second thought, I don’t like how I have all chalk. This Covid vaccine is giving me brain fog, so I take 0 accountability for my terrible picks today. Enjoy these last two days of the first weekend! Love you, bye.
The Morning Flush 