We have made it! It is officially Selection Sunday. But until we can get to the actual selection show, we have six conference championship games to watch. What a treat. We went 2-2 last time out, bringing the overall record to 32-27.
Love:
Michigan vs. Michigan State 2:30 p.m. CT CBS
I love Michigan in this game for a few reasons. First, this is the third time in a month that these teams are playing each other and MSU has won the first two. It is so hard to beat a team three times in one season, better yet a month and Michigan is too good of a team to be beat by the same team three times. Second, Spartans star point guard Cassius Winston is dealing with some nagging injuries already, and added a nagging ankle injury to the list yesterday in the win against Wisconsin. And third of all, Michigan has Mr. March himself on their sidelines in John Beilein. Beilein has proven the last few seasons that when the lights are the brightest is when he is at his best and I think him and the Wolverines bring it today.
Pick: Michigan -1/Pick 'em
Like
Auburn vs. Tennessee Noon CT ESPN
Auburn comes into this game sneaky very hot. Winners of their last six games, one of which was against Tennessee just last weekend. I really think it comes down to Auburn just being a tough matchup for the Vols. Auburn is very good from beyond the arc and they pressure on defense and force turnovers. Both of these teams are very upperclassmen heavy and both of these coaches are veterans in the game who have been in championship type games plenty of times. I think these teams are very evenly matched.
Another interesting note, when these two met at Auburn just last week the total was 164 for that game. The oddsmakers opened this game at 150 and that quickly was bet down to 145 and has since fluctuated around that number. That is roughly a 19-20 point difference depending on what number your book has. The oddsmakers are telling us to expect a slower, more defense laden game. With that, I am going to take the points and look for Auburn to keep us within the number.
Pick: Auburn +5
Lean:
Saint Louis vs. St. Bonaventure Noon CT ESPN
The Bonnies have been money the last month or so. Winners of 10 of their last 11 and going 9-2 ATS in that span. They have also been great so far in this tournament, 2-0 ATS both of which I was on. These two last matched up just one week ago where the Bonnies won 66-57.
Both of these teams are very sound defensively, Bonnies ranking 52nd overall and the Billikins ranking 48th. But, while the Bonnies are no offensive juggernaut, they are nowhere near as bad as SLU is on the offensive end. SLU ranks 310th in the nation in 3P%, 287th in 2P%, and 352nd in FT%. They really cannot do anything well on the offensive end and when you go up against a team with as good of defense as the Bonnies do, then you are in for a long day.
Of note, the Bonnies only have the 213th best offense overall in the nation but come into this game shooting 37% from deep so far in the A10 tournament, which would be up 5% from their season average and would rank well in the top 50 in the nation over a whole season. Some times when you are hot, you are just hot. We'll ride the Bonnies hot hand from deep and lock down defense.
Pick: St. Bonaventure -2
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