Kentucky (29-3 straight up, 19-10-1 against the spread) is the top seed in the Midwest region after capturing the SEC Tournament championship with a 64-57 win over Mississippi State as a seven-point favorite. The Wildcats have clearly been the best team in the country over the last six weeks, as Tubby Smith has done his finest job of coaching to date this season.
Kentucky is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games. (AP)
The 'Cats have won 23 consecutive games, in addition to a 14-3-1 ATS spree. They don't have a dominant player that's lottery bound, but Keith Bogans and Marquis Estill are two of the best players in the SEC. More than anything, this team gets it done with suffocating defense, which has resulted in a 5-2-2 record for the 'under' in UK's last nine games with a total.
The Big Blue Nation will descend upon Nashville for Friday's 12:30 meeting with 16th-seeded IUPUI (20-13 SU). Most sports books listed the 'Cats as 27-point favorites early Tuesday, with the Stardust marking the total at 135 1/2.
The 8-9 matchup will pit Oregon (23-9 SU, 15-15 ATS) against Utah (24-7 SU, 13-11 ATS), with most books listing the Ducks as 4 1/2-point favorites. Ernie Kent's team won the Pac-10 Tournament, but we need to tag a little asterisk next to that honor. After all, Oregon faced teams (UCLA and USC) with a combined record of 23-36 in the semifinals and finals of the tourney.
Oregon has won seven of its last 10 ATS, and let's remember that Kent's club advanced to the Elite Eight last year before losing a shootout against Kansas.
Utah will play without one of its best players, Britton Johnson (11.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG), who is suffering from mono. The Utes pulled a complete no-show in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, as Rick Majerus' troops took a 64-41 clubbing from UNLV.
Second-seeded Pittsburgh (26-4 SU, 14-9 ATS) will venture to Boston to meet Wagner (21-9 SU). The Panthers have won nine in a row SU, including a 74-56 win over UConn in the finals of the Big East Tournament.
Ben Howland's team has compiled a 6-2 spread mark in its last eight lined games. The 'under' has been pulling huge profits in Pitt games, with a 13-3-1 record.
The 7-10 game features a pair of dangerous teams who have struggled recently. Indiana (20-12 SU, 14-18 ATS) and Alabama (17-11 SU, 11-16 ATS) slipped into the Tournament despite losing their way in their respective conference races.
Both of these teams spent time in the top 10 in December, and each squad has big-time talent. There will be two excellent matchups to watch in this game, as IU's Tom Coverdale and 'Bama's Mo Williams will do battle in the backcourt, while IU's Jeff Newton and 'Bama's Erwin Dudley bang on the blocks.
It appears that this number will go off as a pick 'em, with the total listed at 131. This game will also be at the Fleet Center in Beantown.
Although Mark Gottfried's team has lost back-to-back games SU, including an inexcusable SEC Tourney loss to Vanderbilt, we must point out a solid ATS run recently. In fact, the Crimson Tide occupied the 230th slot of 233 board teams in our ATS rankings just four weeks ago. Since then, Gottfried's troops have covered the number in five of six games, with the 'over' appearing in four of those six outings.
As for the Hoosiers, they have covered the spread in three consecutive games, while the 'over' has posted a 7-4 mark in the last 11 appearances.
Wisconsin (22-7 SU, 19-7 ATS) and Weber State (25-5 SU, 16-8-1 ATS) will collide in Spokane, Wash., for the 5-12 game. This will be a battle of two of the best spread teams in the country. In fact, the Badgers own the second-best ATS record, while Weber State is ranked in the 14th slot.
Can Weber State pull another upset like it did in 1999?(AP)
Weber State is located in Ogden, Utah, roughly 40 minutes outside of Salt Lake City. The Wildcats upset North Carolina in the 1999 NCAA Tournament behind the electric play of New Orleans native Harold "The Show" Arceneaux. A Sweet 16 trip for Weber State was denied when Florida rallied to nip the 'Cats in overtime.
Weber State is in the midst of a 12-2-1 ATS spree. The 'Cats faced only three Big Dance clubs, losing at Utah State (by two) and Utah (by 14). Since the loss to the Utes, Weber has won 17 in a row SU, including a six-point win over BYU as a 3 1/2-point home underdog.
Bo Ryan's team won the Big Ten regular-season title, but the Badgers saw their four-game winning streak snapped by Ohio State in the first round of the Big 10 Tournament. The Buckeyes pulled the upset as eight-point underdogs.
The 'under' has appeared in five consecutive Wisconsin games. The Badgers are favored by seven, with the total at 128.
Fourth-seeded Dayton (24-5 SU, 17-10 ATS) will take on Tulsa (22-9 SU, 12-15 ATS) in Spokane. Oliver Purnell's club has been installed as a 2 1/2-point 'chalk.'
Similar to Alabama, Tulsa was in the ATS doldrums in late February. However, the Golden Hurricane have won nine of their last 10 games versus the number. In addition, the 'under' owns a 6-1 record in Tulsa games.
Dayton has won eight of its last nine games SU, while compiling a 12-3-1 spread ledger in its last 16 games.
Marquette (23-5 SU, 16-8 ATS) will meet Holy Cross (25-4 SU, 1-0 ATS) in the 3-14 showdown in Indianapolis. The Golden Eagles have been tabbed as 11-point favorites, with most gambling outlets listing the total at 133.
Tom Crean's team suffered a surprising 83-76 loss to UAB in the first round of the C-USA Tournament. Also, Marquette was beaten by Tulsa in the first round of the Big Dance last year.
On the flip side, Holy Cross nearly pulled the biggest upset of the Tournament last year when it led Kansas for the first 30 minutes before faltering down the stretch.
The Crusaders are coached by Ralph Willard, who is the former head coach at Pitt and a disciple of Rick Pitino. Willard's club has won 12 in a row SU. Holy Cross notched quality wins against Boston College and Princeton this year.
As much as Holy Cross would appear to be a candidate to pull a first-round upset, I certainly wouldn't count on it. In my opinion, Crean is one of the best young coaches in the nation, and he has one of the premier players in the Tournament, Dwyane Wade (21.9 PPG).
Marquette gets after it on defense, and it has the most underated point guard in the country, Travis Diener (11.2 PPG). Furthermore, the Golden Eagles have a quality threat in the paint, Mississippi State transfer Robert Jackson (15.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG).
The other Midwest matchup in Indy will pit sixth-seeded Missouri (21-10 SU, 15-12 ATS) versus Southern Illinois (24-6 SU, 11-16 ATS). Both of these teams had impressive showings last year, with the Salukis advancing to the Sweet 16, while 12th-seeded Mizzou made it all the way to the Elite Eight before losing to Oklahoma.
The Tigers have been made four-point favorites, with the total at 139.
How I see it...
The winner of Indiana-Alabama could give Pitt trouble, but I like the Panthers to advance out of Boston. Brandin Knight has dusted off several mid-season injuries, and he'll lead Pitt into a Sweet 16 matchup against Marquette.
Crean's team will have its hands full with Holy Cross and the winner of Mizzou-Southern Illinois. However, I think Wade and Diener will get it done this year after last year's disappointing performance.
It should be smooth sailing for Kentucky in Music City. Oregon will get past Utah, but the Lukes -- Ridnour and Jackson -- will have to play out of their minds for the Ducks to pull a shocker over the 'Cats.
I'll give a slight edge to Wisconsin to come out of Spokane but any of these four teams could make it to Minneapolis to face UK. Regardless of the foe, the Big Blue will advance to the Elite Eight.
Pitt and Marquette will square off in a great Sweet 16 matchup. I'll give the nod to the Golden Eagles, but they won't have enough to make it to their first Final Four since 1977, when the late Al McGuire led Marquette past North Carolina for the title at the Omni in Atlanta.
Look for Kentucky to advance to its first Final Four since knocking off Utah for the championship in '98.
Brian Edwards (VI)
Kentucky is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games. (AP)
The 'Cats have won 23 consecutive games, in addition to a 14-3-1 ATS spree. They don't have a dominant player that's lottery bound, but Keith Bogans and Marquis Estill are two of the best players in the SEC. More than anything, this team gets it done with suffocating defense, which has resulted in a 5-2-2 record for the 'under' in UK's last nine games with a total.
The Big Blue Nation will descend upon Nashville for Friday's 12:30 meeting with 16th-seeded IUPUI (20-13 SU). Most sports books listed the 'Cats as 27-point favorites early Tuesday, with the Stardust marking the total at 135 1/2.
The 8-9 matchup will pit Oregon (23-9 SU, 15-15 ATS) against Utah (24-7 SU, 13-11 ATS), with most books listing the Ducks as 4 1/2-point favorites. Ernie Kent's team won the Pac-10 Tournament, but we need to tag a little asterisk next to that honor. After all, Oregon faced teams (UCLA and USC) with a combined record of 23-36 in the semifinals and finals of the tourney.
Oregon has won seven of its last 10 ATS, and let's remember that Kent's club advanced to the Elite Eight last year before losing a shootout against Kansas.
Utah will play without one of its best players, Britton Johnson (11.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG), who is suffering from mono. The Utes pulled a complete no-show in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, as Rick Majerus' troops took a 64-41 clubbing from UNLV.
Second-seeded Pittsburgh (26-4 SU, 14-9 ATS) will venture to Boston to meet Wagner (21-9 SU). The Panthers have won nine in a row SU, including a 74-56 win over UConn in the finals of the Big East Tournament.
Ben Howland's team has compiled a 6-2 spread mark in its last eight lined games. The 'under' has been pulling huge profits in Pitt games, with a 13-3-1 record.
The 7-10 game features a pair of dangerous teams who have struggled recently. Indiana (20-12 SU, 14-18 ATS) and Alabama (17-11 SU, 11-16 ATS) slipped into the Tournament despite losing their way in their respective conference races.
Both of these teams spent time in the top 10 in December, and each squad has big-time talent. There will be two excellent matchups to watch in this game, as IU's Tom Coverdale and 'Bama's Mo Williams will do battle in the backcourt, while IU's Jeff Newton and 'Bama's Erwin Dudley bang on the blocks.
It appears that this number will go off as a pick 'em, with the total listed at 131. This game will also be at the Fleet Center in Beantown.
Although Mark Gottfried's team has lost back-to-back games SU, including an inexcusable SEC Tourney loss to Vanderbilt, we must point out a solid ATS run recently. In fact, the Crimson Tide occupied the 230th slot of 233 board teams in our ATS rankings just four weeks ago. Since then, Gottfried's troops have covered the number in five of six games, with the 'over' appearing in four of those six outings.
As for the Hoosiers, they have covered the spread in three consecutive games, while the 'over' has posted a 7-4 mark in the last 11 appearances.
Wisconsin (22-7 SU, 19-7 ATS) and Weber State (25-5 SU, 16-8-1 ATS) will collide in Spokane, Wash., for the 5-12 game. This will be a battle of two of the best spread teams in the country. In fact, the Badgers own the second-best ATS record, while Weber State is ranked in the 14th slot.
Can Weber State pull another upset like it did in 1999?(AP)
Weber State is located in Ogden, Utah, roughly 40 minutes outside of Salt Lake City. The Wildcats upset North Carolina in the 1999 NCAA Tournament behind the electric play of New Orleans native Harold "The Show" Arceneaux. A Sweet 16 trip for Weber State was denied when Florida rallied to nip the 'Cats in overtime.
Weber State is in the midst of a 12-2-1 ATS spree. The 'Cats faced only three Big Dance clubs, losing at Utah State (by two) and Utah (by 14). Since the loss to the Utes, Weber has won 17 in a row SU, including a six-point win over BYU as a 3 1/2-point home underdog.
Bo Ryan's team won the Big Ten regular-season title, but the Badgers saw their four-game winning streak snapped by Ohio State in the first round of the Big 10 Tournament. The Buckeyes pulled the upset as eight-point underdogs.
The 'under' has appeared in five consecutive Wisconsin games. The Badgers are favored by seven, with the total at 128.
Fourth-seeded Dayton (24-5 SU, 17-10 ATS) will take on Tulsa (22-9 SU, 12-15 ATS) in Spokane. Oliver Purnell's club has been installed as a 2 1/2-point 'chalk.'
Similar to Alabama, Tulsa was in the ATS doldrums in late February. However, the Golden Hurricane have won nine of their last 10 games versus the number. In addition, the 'under' owns a 6-1 record in Tulsa games.
Dayton has won eight of its last nine games SU, while compiling a 12-3-1 spread ledger in its last 16 games.
Marquette (23-5 SU, 16-8 ATS) will meet Holy Cross (25-4 SU, 1-0 ATS) in the 3-14 showdown in Indianapolis. The Golden Eagles have been tabbed as 11-point favorites, with most gambling outlets listing the total at 133.
Tom Crean's team suffered a surprising 83-76 loss to UAB in the first round of the C-USA Tournament. Also, Marquette was beaten by Tulsa in the first round of the Big Dance last year.
On the flip side, Holy Cross nearly pulled the biggest upset of the Tournament last year when it led Kansas for the first 30 minutes before faltering down the stretch.
The Crusaders are coached by Ralph Willard, who is the former head coach at Pitt and a disciple of Rick Pitino. Willard's club has won 12 in a row SU. Holy Cross notched quality wins against Boston College and Princeton this year.
As much as Holy Cross would appear to be a candidate to pull a first-round upset, I certainly wouldn't count on it. In my opinion, Crean is one of the best young coaches in the nation, and he has one of the premier players in the Tournament, Dwyane Wade (21.9 PPG).
Marquette gets after it on defense, and it has the most underated point guard in the country, Travis Diener (11.2 PPG). Furthermore, the Golden Eagles have a quality threat in the paint, Mississippi State transfer Robert Jackson (15.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG).
The other Midwest matchup in Indy will pit sixth-seeded Missouri (21-10 SU, 15-12 ATS) versus Southern Illinois (24-6 SU, 11-16 ATS). Both of these teams had impressive showings last year, with the Salukis advancing to the Sweet 16, while 12th-seeded Mizzou made it all the way to the Elite Eight before losing to Oklahoma.
The Tigers have been made four-point favorites, with the total at 139.
How I see it...
The winner of Indiana-Alabama could give Pitt trouble, but I like the Panthers to advance out of Boston. Brandin Knight has dusted off several mid-season injuries, and he'll lead Pitt into a Sweet 16 matchup against Marquette.
Crean's team will have its hands full with Holy Cross and the winner of Mizzou-Southern Illinois. However, I think Wade and Diener will get it done this year after last year's disappointing performance.
It should be smooth sailing for Kentucky in Music City. Oregon will get past Utah, but the Lukes -- Ridnour and Jackson -- will have to play out of their minds for the Ducks to pull a shocker over the 'Cats.
I'll give a slight edge to Wisconsin to come out of Spokane but any of these four teams could make it to Minneapolis to face UK. Regardless of the foe, the Big Blue will advance to the Elite Eight.
Pitt and Marquette will square off in a great Sweet 16 matchup. I'll give the nod to the Golden Eagles, but they won't have enough to make it to their first Final Four since 1977, when the late Al McGuire led Marquette past North Carolina for the title at the Omni in Atlanta.
Look for Kentucky to advance to its first Final Four since knocking off Utah for the championship in '98.
Brian Edwards (VI)
