The Massive Ten holds the final championship sport earlier than the brackets are launched, making the ultimate minutes of the occasion really feel prefer it stands in the way in which of what the nation is ready to see.
Proposal: Transfer the Massive Ten title sport — performed by groups that gained’t see their seed-line transfer greater than an inch or two — up a few hours on Choice Sunday, then push again the Ivy League title sport — that includes nationally acknowledged faculties in one of many nation’s most entertaining leagues — making the ultimate sport of championship week a battle between historical rivals preventing for his or her lives.
Tennessee (+4.5) over Florida
The Gators have regarded unstoppable since March started, scoring no less than 89 factors throughout a five-game win streak.
However the Vols have already got proven they will sluggish the fourth-highest scoring staff within the nation, holding Florida to a mean of 58.5 factors — 26 factors under its season common — in a regular-season break up.
Tennessee has thrived as an underdog this season — together with yesterday’s upset of top-seeded Auburn — going 4-1 towards the unfold.
Wisconsin (-3.5) over Michigan
I’m not betting towards the Badgers for a 3rd straight day.
Getting into the Massive Ten Event with three losses in 5 video games, Wisconsin has discovered its stride with John Tonje taking the reins.
The senior guard has averaged 29 factors whereas serving to the Badgers avenge regular-season losses to UCLA and top-seeded Michigan State.
The Wolverines — who claimed a three-point win over Wisconsin on Dec. 3 — are subsequent.
Cornell (+5.5) over Yale
The Massive Crimson are on the lookout for their first NCAA Event berth since their 2010 Candy 16 run and enter the Ivy League title sport on a five-game win streak, averaging 92 factors per sport prior to now three weeks.
Three of the previous 5 conferences between the groups have been determined by 4 factors or much less, and Yale’s previous 5 video games — excluding a gathering with last-place Columbia — have been determined by a mean of 5 factors, together with a 92-88 Bulldogs win over Cornell.
Their conferences this season have proven Yale will let the underdog play at its most well-liked tempo.
Betting on Faculty Basketball?
VCU (-7.5) over George Mason
The Rams may make the NCAA Event as one of many final at-large groups, however there might be no must sweat it out.
The highest staff within the Atlantic 10 has misplaced simply as soon as for the reason that begin of February, coming into yesterday with the sixth-best common scoring margin (15.3 factors) within the nation.
It has been lower than a month since VCU — 20-10 towards the unfold as a favourite — claimed a 16-point win over the Patriots regardless of taking pictures below 39 p.c from the sphere, with an opportunistic protection constructed to torture some of the turnover-prone groups within the nation.
VCU coach Ryan Odom is making his fifth convention title sport look in seven seasons, already having led UMBC and Utah State to the Massive Dance.
Final yr’s title sport upset loss towards Duquesne will assist make sure that historical past doesn’t repeat.
This season: 9-6
2011-24 file: 378-340-12
