NCAAB Sweet Sixteen 877 Marquette +4.5
There is a consensus handicap that Marquette will not be able to run with the athletic and deep Tar Heels. I beg to differ. Marquette did exactly that with Xavier and then out-hustled Syracuse. I think UNC backers should worry about their team not having a 90% home court advantage as they did in the first two rounds. UNC will have to worry about stopping Odom, Butler and Crowder who shoot well from any spot on the floor and if UNC gives up 87 or 83 as they have so far Marquette walks away with the win.
880 Ohio State -5.5
Ohio State looks to me as the best team in the tournament. They win with ease and have so much fire power at their disposal that Kentucky would have to play their best game this season IMO to stay within 10 points. Nuff said.
881 Richmond +11
I don't see how anyone can bet Kansas here, the number is too high. Richmond is on a roll winning 9 straight and covering them all = undervalued. Kansas has won 10 straight but covered only half, 5-5 ATS. I made the line on this game Kansas -8 and would take +9 or more. Richmond starts four seniors and will play them until the final whistle and if you haven't seen guard Kevin Anderson play you are in for a treat.
809 U Conn +1
SDST needed double OT to defeat Temple, and honestly Temple should have lost to Penn St. Other than dominating N. Colorado, they have shown poor depth, been in trouble with turnovers, and a lack of concentration in making simple shots. Their main man Kawhi Leonard was just 5-14 from the floor and three of those were dunks.
Connecticut has all the tools to knock off any team. They're quickness and close range shots alone is enough to win, but what we like most about this squad is their tenacity to get the lead or bounce back. Time and time again vs Cincinnati they would be down by 2-3 points and always worked their way back and once they get the lead are very tough, they have multiple athletes that never seem to run out of gas as we saw in the Big East Conference Championship.
883 VCU +4
Florida State is the No.#1 defensive team in the tournament, but in their last game it was the offense that hit 9-of-19 three point shots, seven in the first half and a lead that gave the Seminoles the confidence and then let the defense take over and frustrate Notre Dame that propelled them to an upset win. I just don't see them matching VCU's speed and a team who has shown a breakout move down the court and a pass to hit the open three like this handicapper has never seen before. It's a set play that is difficult to stop and will be the difference in this matchup.
more plays and analysis later in the week
