2015 NCAA Tournament Picks: Day 1
Your mind has become clouded, team after team, your at a deadlock. You can't decipher the code, and then you feel it slowly start to creep on you. You know your time is running out; it begins to consume you. Then before you know it, your time has been exhausted. The Madness has taken over. All you can do now is sit back and let it take full affect. March Madness is coming with a vengeance and we don't want to miss one minute of it. Join our handicappers as we provide you with two different perspectives, pick-by-pick in this lunacy binge of college basketball
Parker's Picks
Northeaster +12.5 vs Notre Dame
In all honesty the best bet is Notre Dame -6.5 in the first half. The Irish have been using hot starts and with an early game they should still be on the roll. I would look for them to get a double-digit lead but nurse it. The back door is wide open for NE and although it isn’t my favorite play I would take the 12.5
UAB +14 vs Iowa State
Iowa State will win this game. UAB however has been playing well and playing with a lot of pride. The Cyclones may not trail a second in this game but I don’t expect this game getting out of hand, and if it does the Cyclones will rest starters and UAB will go out with respect and play hard. They should cover and lose by 10 or less.
Georgia State vs Baylor -9
Baylor is just too big for Georgia State. They will only get one possession per trip with these bigs and will need to cash in on threes. Baylor will be able to slowly wear down GSU and roll.
Texas Southern vs Arizona -23.5
This honestly isn’t a bet I would take but Arizona seems to be on a mission to roll over the weaker competition. Southern may hang for while but I would need more points to look their way.
Texas vs Butler +2
This will be one of the best games of the first day. Texas has the talent to beat Butler, and a chip on their shoulder but they have a habit of turning the ball over and going on scoring draughts. Butler should shoot well enough to advance.
UCLA +4 vs SMU
I always have a problem betting against the team with the chip on their shoulder. Sure SMU got jobbed in 2014 by missing the tournament, but they did their job and won their conference tournament this year. All week UCLA has been hearing that they shouldn’t be in the tournament and they were the last team in and all the experts are against you. They should look to go out with a bang and at least have a long 3 at the end of the game.
Ole Miss vs Xavier -3
I think Xavier was playing good basketball before running into a train in Villanova. Nova does that to plenty of teams, and I still don’t buy into the Running Rebs I would take Xavier and lay the points.
Ohio State -4 vs VCU
If Ohio State turns the ball over they will lose. Deangelo Russell is the primary ball handler and I expect him to show up for the NBA scouts and prove that he can handle a fast paced press. On the flip side if the Buckeyes don’t shoot well can VCU score enough? A team so reliant on three pointers may but I think the defense of OSU will force some bad shots and they will win this game.
Laffayette vs Villanova -23
Villanova is on full throttle is way to big for a small school like this. If they can shoot well enough they will be up 23 by halftime and that would be worth a bet as they are -13.5 on the first half line. The subs of Nova will get time and only time will tell if they are better than the Lafayette starters. I am not going to risk betting on Laffayette against a team with a point to prove.
Purdue -1.5 vs Cincinnati
Purdue has enough to size to be able to score around 60 points in this one. I don’t think that the Bearcats will be able to score much and certainly don’t have an edge in rebounding. It should be a good one but I think the Boilermakers are the right side here.
Harvard +11 vs UNC
Harvard is a team playing with a lot of pride. Also former Duke alum Tommy Ammacher will be coaching for the Crimson. UNC has more things to worry about than how much they beat Harvard by, but I know Harvard will want to be within a few possession by the end.
SFA vs Utah -6.5
SFA is the trendy 12 over 5 upset and Utah has struggled down the stretch including an ugly collapse vs Oregon. I’m not buying the hype that the Utes are done and I think they were under seeded. They’ll have a lot to prove, and have too much size and talent to fall into the Steven F Austin trap.
LSU vs NC State -2
LSU may have the advantage in the front court, but the guard play of the Wolf Pack, and the presence of 6’9” 295llb Beejay Anya holding some weight down low I think they can hang with the Tigers. With a coaching advantage favoring NC State I would not be surprised to see LSU start hot and blow a lead in a close loss to the Wolf Pack.
Hampton vs Kentucky -33
I mean I am not going to lay 33 points but I am not going to post and recommend going against Kentucky. They seem to always land within 3 points of the spread and I don’t want anything to do with betting on how badly they beat Hampton.
Wofford +7.5 vs Arkansas
This should be a tight game for a majority. I think Wofford can play som defense and create some turnovers. Arkansas should be able to pull away late and it may be close to the 7 but I expect Wofford to keep this reasonable, and possibly be on upset alert with lesst 4 to go.
Eastern Washington +7.5 vs Georgetown
The committee did Georgetown no favors. They send them to Portland Oregon to play a hot and ready EWU team fresh of an impressive conference tournament run. It is also a bad matchup, as the GTown D wants you to take tough 3s, while EWU likes to chuck the 3. The crowd will feature EWU fans, and Utah fans that are much closer to Portland, who will join in the cheers for an upset for the Eagles. It may happen but I really think it comes down to a late shot for either side and I will take 7.5 points.
Dave's Picks
Notre Dame -12.5 vs North Eastern
Notre Dame is hot and looking for a Final Four run. North Eastern snuck into this tourney. Grant is a star, North Eastern has no stars.
Straight Up: Notre Dame
ATS: Notre Dame -12.5
UAB vs Iowa State -14
UAB has been superb ATS going 17-13-1 and won there conference tourney by beating mediocre competition. I liked this team all year, but they got a bad draw in this tourney. Their gift is a red-hot Cyclones team that is 8-2 in their past 10 led by Niang & McCay. UAB will need to slow the pace of the game if they want a shot at the upset, but I think Iowa State pulls away second half and proves to be too much for the underrated Blazers.
Straight Up: Iowa State
ATS: UAB +14
Georgia State vs Baylor -9
People who are wondering why Baylor is only -9 against this Georgia State squad is because this Georgia State team is not to be overlooked. If they can get a healthy Harrow (18 ppg) back in time to run the backcourt with RJ Hunter (19 ppg) then they have a chance to pick apart this curtain zone defense of Baylors that was the best in the Big 12. I think guard play is crucial for winning the tournament and Georgia State has one of the best backcourts. You may laugh that they only put up 38 points in their conference championship game, but they also had the composure to hold their opponent to 36 points; and here they are. Stars come out in the tourney.
Straight Up: Georgia State
ATS: Georgia State +9
Texas Southern vs Arizona -23.5
Both teams enter this one going 10-0 in their last 10. However, Texas Southern played the likes of Alcorn State and Prairie View A&M, while Arizona tore through the Pac 12. Texas Southern can't play defense, so do I smell looming a warm up game to get ready for the winner of VCU/Ohio State? I think so.
Straight Up: Arizona
ATS: Arizona -23.5
Texas -2 vs Butler
I'm not sure how Texas snuck into this tourney especially as an 11 seed, but maybe there's something the selection committees saw in them. Whatever it is I don't see it, all I see is a team that lost to quality teams and beat up on lesser competition. Butler is led by playmakers Dunham and Rosey, while play solid defense. I am going with the better road team in Butler who is 9-5 on the road while Texas has mustered a subpar 5-7 on the road.
Straight Up: Butler
ATS: Butler +2
UCLA vs SMU -4
UCLA is another team that snuck into this tourney. Looney is a nice pro prospect for this team, but they don't have great depth, not to mention they are terrible on the road. SMU has an efficient 47% field goal efficiency, while shooting 70% from the charity stripe. SMU likes to pound it down low and play good defense, while UCLA can score, they are just too inconsistent for my taste.
Straight Up: SMU
ATS: SMU -4
Ole Miss vs Xavier -3
Ole Miss just had a nice comeback on a good BYU team. While Xavier was so close to a Big East Championship. Regardless both teams have been playing iffy, but this Ole Miss team showed some guts coming back on BYU the way they did. Ole Miss is 11-4 on the road this season, while Xavier is an average 7-8. Ole Miss is going to ride in this game with some momentum, and I think it will be just enough to get by.
Straight Up: Ole Miss
ATS: Ole Miss +3
VCU vs Ohio State -4
VCU has been on a tear after losing their star player, as they went on to win the A 10 tourney. Meanwhile Ohio State, has gone 6-4 in their last 10. This is a tough matchup for me because I like VCUs pressure defense, but Ohio State has the guard play to succumb them. Smart is an excellent coach, but Thad isn't bad either. I'm going to go with the points in this one.
Straight Up: Ohio State
ATS: VCU +4
Lafayette vs Villanova -23
On paper this Lafayette teams looks capable of giving Villanova a smidgeon of trouble, but on the court Villanova should have no problem with this team. Coach Jay knows he has one of the best squads he's ever coached, and if he wants to help build his legacy, he needs to coach this team to a National Title bout.
Straight Up: Villanova
ATS: Villanova -23
Purdue -2 vs Cincinnati
If Purdue wasn't in the same region as Kentucky, I'd say they'd be a nice sleeper pick, but unfortunately that's not the case. Purdue has a couple stars in Octeus and Hammonds, with a nice supporting cast. Cincinnati has the same style of play as Purdue with a defensive focus. Cincinnati will be without their head coach Cronin, so they will be at a disadvantage.
Straight Up: Purdue
ATS: Purdue -2
Harvard vs North Carolina -10.5
This Marcus Paige led Heels team can put up points, there's no doubt about it; they're problem is they are inconsistent on the defensive end. Harvard has Saunders and Chambers, but that's about it. I just don't think Harvard has enough to keep up with this high scoring offense. I like the Tar Heels to cover the double digit spread.
S.F. Austin vs Utah -6.5
S.F. Austin's record and the small chalk might make them look like a possible upset pick here, but this Utah team at one point was playing like a top 5 team in the country. S.F. Austin has played cake teams, which makes it hard for me to buy in to them. Utah has a well balanced team that will and is 8-3 ATS in their past 11 in a neutral site. I like Utah and the small chalk against a S. F. Austin team that hasn't lost in over a month (gulp).
Straight Up: Utah
ATS: Utah -6.5
LSU vs NC State -2
LSU was the only team this season that came close to beating the historic Kentucky team. NC State ain't no slouches though; winning a couple thrillers against ranked opponents. LSU has NBA talent in Mickey & Martin who work the paint down low. NC State has a couple bigs that can somewhat bang with LSU, so if LSU guards can keep the turnovers to a minimum and contain Lacey, then I feel they can pull out a close victory.
Straight Up: LSU
ATS: LSU +2
