Indiana vs. Pittsburgh
--Pittsburgh (27-4 straight up, 15-9 against the spread) has been installed as a 6 1/2-point favorite at most sports books, with the total listed at 130.
--The Panthers advanced to the second round with an 87-61 win over Wagner as 21-point favorites. The pointspread cover was the third in a row for Pitt, and it is 7-2 ATS in its last nine outings.
--The 'under' is 3-1 in Pitt's last four games.
--Despite trailing for most of the game, Indiana (21-12 SU, 15-18 ATS) rallied to knock off Alabama, 67-62, as a one-point favorite.
--IU head coach Mike Davis owns a 6-1 SU record in the Big Dance.
--The Hoosiers are 1-6 ATS as underdogs this season.
--Tip-off is slated for 12:10 p.m. ET.
==========================
Oklahoma State vs. Syracuse
--Syracuse (25-5 SU, 15-11 ATS) held off a game Manhattan squad at the Fleet Center in Boston on Friday. Freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony scored a team-high 17 point to spark the 'Cuse to a 76-65 victory as a 7 1/2-point favorite.
--Jim Boeheim's team has compiled a 9-1 SU record in the last 10 games. The Orangemen have covered the number in six of their last eight outings.
--The 'under' has appeared in three consecutive Syracuse games.
--Oklahoma State (22-9 SU, 11-15 ATS) snapped out of a late-season slide to prevail over Penn in the first round Friday. The Cowboys pulled away late for a 77-63 trimph as 2 1/2-point favorites.
--Despite Friday's ATS win, OSU is still 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games.
--The 'under' is 7-2 in OSU's last nine outings.
--The 'Cuse has been made a 2 1/2-point 'chalk,' with the total listed at 130 at most gambling outlets.
===========================
Auburn vs. Wake Forest
--Wake Forest (25-5 SU, 14-11 ATS) has been tabbed as a five-point favorite, with the total at 138.
--The second-seeded Demon Deacons edged East Tennessee by a score of 76-73 as 12 1/2-point favorites. The 'non-cover' was the third straight for Skip Prosser's club.
--Tenth-seeded Auburn (21-11 SU, 15-12 ATS) defeated St. Joseph's in overtime, 65-63, as a 3 1/2-point underdog.
--Cliff Ellis' team is 4-2 ATS in its last six games.
--Tip-off in Tampa is set for 2:15 p.m. ET.
======================
Florida vs. Michigan State
--This 2-7 matchup is a rematch of the 2000 national championship game. Michigan State (20-12 SU, 16-14 ATS) prevailed over Florida (25-7 SU, 13-15 ATS) to the win the title, 89-76, as a five-point favorite.
--Since then, these teams have met twice, splitting a pair of meetings in a home-and-home series. However, we should note that the Spartans have covered the spread in all three encounters. Last season, UF led by double digits for most of the game before allowing Michigan State to post the backdoor cover in a 74-70 UF win as a 14-point favorite.
--Michigan State dominated Colorado in the opening round en route to a 79-64 victory as a three-point favorite.
--Florida covered the spread as well when it drilled Sam Houston State to the tune of an 85-55 count as a 20-point 'chalk.'
--Billy Donovan's team has been made a five-point favorite, with the total at 130.
============================
Utah vs. Kentucky
--Despite the absence of its best player, Britton Johnson, Utah (25-7 SU, 15-12 ATS) collected a 60-58 win over Oregon as a five-point underdog.
--Gamblers should check the status of Johnson, who is suffering from mono. He was on the Utah bench Friday but his availability is in serious doubt.
--Most sports books have installed top-seeded Kentucky (30-3 SU, 20-10 ATS) as a 14 1/2-point favorite over the Utes, with the total at 127 1/2.
--The Wildcats advanced with a 95-64 clubbing of IUPUI as a 25 1/2-point favorite.
--Tubby Smith's squad has won 24 consecutive games outright, in addition to a 15-3-1 ATS spree.
--Pittsburgh (27-4 straight up, 15-9 against the spread) has been installed as a 6 1/2-point favorite at most sports books, with the total listed at 130.
--The Panthers advanced to the second round with an 87-61 win over Wagner as 21-point favorites. The pointspread cover was the third in a row for Pitt, and it is 7-2 ATS in its last nine outings.
--The 'under' is 3-1 in Pitt's last four games.
--Despite trailing for most of the game, Indiana (21-12 SU, 15-18 ATS) rallied to knock off Alabama, 67-62, as a one-point favorite.
--IU head coach Mike Davis owns a 6-1 SU record in the Big Dance.
--The Hoosiers are 1-6 ATS as underdogs this season.
--Tip-off is slated for 12:10 p.m. ET.
==========================
Oklahoma State vs. Syracuse
--Syracuse (25-5 SU, 15-11 ATS) held off a game Manhattan squad at the Fleet Center in Boston on Friday. Freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony scored a team-high 17 point to spark the 'Cuse to a 76-65 victory as a 7 1/2-point favorite.
--Jim Boeheim's team has compiled a 9-1 SU record in the last 10 games. The Orangemen have covered the number in six of their last eight outings.
--The 'under' has appeared in three consecutive Syracuse games.
--Oklahoma State (22-9 SU, 11-15 ATS) snapped out of a late-season slide to prevail over Penn in the first round Friday. The Cowboys pulled away late for a 77-63 trimph as 2 1/2-point favorites.
--Despite Friday's ATS win, OSU is still 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games.
--The 'under' is 7-2 in OSU's last nine outings.
--The 'Cuse has been made a 2 1/2-point 'chalk,' with the total listed at 130 at most gambling outlets.
===========================
Auburn vs. Wake Forest
--Wake Forest (25-5 SU, 14-11 ATS) has been tabbed as a five-point favorite, with the total at 138.
--The second-seeded Demon Deacons edged East Tennessee by a score of 76-73 as 12 1/2-point favorites. The 'non-cover' was the third straight for Skip Prosser's club.
--Tenth-seeded Auburn (21-11 SU, 15-12 ATS) defeated St. Joseph's in overtime, 65-63, as a 3 1/2-point underdog.
--Cliff Ellis' team is 4-2 ATS in its last six games.
--Tip-off in Tampa is set for 2:15 p.m. ET.
======================
Florida vs. Michigan State
--This 2-7 matchup is a rematch of the 2000 national championship game. Michigan State (20-12 SU, 16-14 ATS) prevailed over Florida (25-7 SU, 13-15 ATS) to the win the title, 89-76, as a five-point favorite.
--Since then, these teams have met twice, splitting a pair of meetings in a home-and-home series. However, we should note that the Spartans have covered the spread in all three encounters. Last season, UF led by double digits for most of the game before allowing Michigan State to post the backdoor cover in a 74-70 UF win as a 14-point favorite.
--Michigan State dominated Colorado in the opening round en route to a 79-64 victory as a three-point favorite.
--Florida covered the spread as well when it drilled Sam Houston State to the tune of an 85-55 count as a 20-point 'chalk.'
--Billy Donovan's team has been made a five-point favorite, with the total at 130.
============================
Utah vs. Kentucky
--Despite the absence of its best player, Britton Johnson, Utah (25-7 SU, 15-12 ATS) collected a 60-58 win over Oregon as a five-point underdog.
--Gamblers should check the status of Johnson, who is suffering from mono. He was on the Utah bench Friday but his availability is in serious doubt.
--Most sports books have installed top-seeded Kentucky (30-3 SU, 20-10 ATS) as a 14 1/2-point favorite over the Utes, with the total at 127 1/2.
--The Wildcats advanced with a 95-64 clubbing of IUPUI as a 25 1/2-point favorite.
--Tubby Smith's squad has won 24 consecutive games outright, in addition to a 15-3-1 ATS spree.
