Category: NCAA-B

The San Diego State Aztecs are currently a 7 point dog in tonight’s matchup with the U Conn Huskies. As usual, the Mountain West’s best are getting no respect and that will just motivate them more to put the screws to the Huskies. As they always do, the Aztecs’ defense will wear you down and I expect a win or at least a back door cover in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS +7

The San Diego State Aztecs and the Creighton Bluejays will meet in Louisville this afternoon to decide which team will advance to their first ever Final 4. The Aztecs did what no one expected on Friday, knocking off the heavily favored #1 seed Alabama, 71-64, and they did it with what they are famous for – defense. Creighton had a slightly easier road getting to this point, with a win over the pesky Princeton Tigers, 86-75. SDSU knows they can beat anybody they face. Their defense is relentless and will wear you down. If they contain Creighton’s big man, Ryan Kalkbrenner, they head to the Final 4. The Aztecs are currently getting 1.5 points and are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
TODAY’S PICK: SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS +1½

No one thought the Princeton Tigers would be playing in the Sweet 16 but here they are. Tonight they will once again be a big dog when they take on the Creighton Bluejays. All the Tigers have done to get here was beat a heavily favored Missouri and Arizona team, and tonight they find themselves in the same situation. The Tigers have similar numbers to the Bluejays and are 6-0 ATS in their last 6. Can Princeton win or at least get under the number? The answer to both is: Yes.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PRINCETON TIGERS +10

The U Conn Huskies and the Iona Gaels will meet in Albany today in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels, led by legendary coach Rick Pitino, destroyed everything in their path this year to capture the MAAC Conference Title. Not surprisingly, the Gaels are a huge dog in this one but have similar numbers to the Huskies and should at least get under the number. Coach Pitino knows the ropes. He has been in this situation many times, will have his boys ready, and they will give the Huskies a run for their money.
TODAY’S PICK: IONA GAELS +9½

The Atlantic 10’s best, the VCU Rams, will meet the #4 ranked Saint Louis Billikens today in conference tournament play at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Rams were once again dominant in their last outing, winning easily over Davidson, 71-53. The Billikens are a dangerous team and that was evident in Thursday’s win against George Mason with their 82-54 blowout of the Patriots. Today however, they had better be clicking on every cylinder. The Rams stingy defense will keep the Billikens offense in check, that is a given, and VCU has won both meetings with St. Louis this year in convincing fashion. The line is VCU -3.5 or 4, depending on where you shop, with the money line around -175. Consider the Rams on the money line.
TODAY’S PICK: VCU RAMS M/L

The San Diego State Aztecs were not at their best yesterday against the Colorado State Rams but still found a way to win and that is what elite teams do. Tonight SDSU will face the San Jose State Spartans in the Mountain West tournament at their home away from home, Thomas & Mack Center. San Diego has owned San Jose over the years and this year has been no different. In their last meeting on January 28th, the Aztecs routed the Spartans, 72-51, and if they contain the Spartans’ standout Omari Moore as they did in the last meeting, they will cruise to an easy victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS -8½

The Youngstown State Penguins and the Northern Kentucky Norse will square off in the Horizon Conference tournament tonight at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Youngstown State is #1 in the Horizon League and can light it up. They are averaging 83.5 points per game as opposed to #4 ranked Northern Kentucky’s 67.8. These teams last met on February 4th, with the Penguins winning in a rout, 74-56. The line has moved from Youngstown State laying 2.5 to 3.5 and who knows where it will end up? Money line it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS M/L