NCAAB Must Love Me

By Dan Rodgers

WOW! Yesterday was awesome and I was fortunate to be on the winning side of two close covers. The Pitt game early and the Toledo game late. I don't have too much time right now, and I will post more in depth later, but I wanted to post this sweetheart teaser I like for the early games.

8-point teaser:

Iowa +9.5 vs. Illinois = I know the only game between these two was an 11-point win for Illinois, but that was in Illinois and this is the conference tournament. Mediocre teams usually get up to play in their conference tournament and that's what makes college basketball so great. This should be a close one down to the wire and I think Iowa wins outright. CORRECT - I was right about the easy cover and outright win...

Wake Forest +12.5 vs. Maryland = This one is simple; they played once during the regular season and that was a six-point Maryland win at home. Both teams suck so this shouldn't be a blowout. INCORRECT - Seriously... why does Maryland have to play their best game of the season when I pick against them?

UConn +15 vs. Syracuse = UConn is so experienced and they had a hell of a comeback yesterday. This is just what they do and I wouldn't be surprised to see an upset right here. They definitely shouldn't get blown out in a game that could decide their NCAA tournament fate. CORRECT - easy money... UConn should have won outright

I gotta run real quick so I just wanted to post that I like Marquette -3 the most during the 7 o'clocks. I will be back on to post about some late games that I like and about the teaser above.

I'll be back with more later!

I'm going to give my squeeze on a few late games. Unfortunately, every time Marquette gets back in the game they fall behind by 10 again. Pathetic game by Jae Crowder...

Toledo +11 vs. Ohio = This line couldn't be more puzzling... Toledo has won three in a row including their first round game against Central Michigan. Ohio has had an excellent season (24-7) but lost their only regular season game against Toledo by four. I just don't see a 15-point turnaround so I'll take my chances and ride the Toledo Rockets. CORRECT - WOW!

Georgia vs. Mississippi State -5 = Even though the Bulldogs (GA) beat the Bulldogs (MS) by two in overtime in their only regular season matchup, Georgia has no chance of making the tournament except for an unlikely conference tournament championship. Mississippi State is still alive and could use a few convincing wins in the conference tourney to pad their resume. INCORRECT - Apparently Miss St doesn't care...

Rodgers That

Everyone Loves the Big East Tourney

By Dan Rodgers

I am going to come back to this post and update it a little bit later today. I just wanted to post my pick for the UConn/WVU game.

Connecticut -2 vs. West Virginia = UConn has won their last two games, including a blowout against DePaul yesterday in the first round. Jim Calhoun is back and I think he is the difference. West Virginia just had a solid win at South Florida to end the regular season, but USF struggles offensively. UConn is experienced and they were just in this position last season and I think that gives them a huge advantage. Look for them to get it done again today. CORRECT - are you kidding me? This game was incredibly exciting... even more so because we came out on top!

Expect more later today...

UCLA -12 vs. USC = Southern Cal is a top football program in the nation, but they are in the cellar of the Pac-12 and rarely provide anything cheer-worthy. UCLA has been playing fairly well recently even though they are having an down season. USC constantly gets destroyed and there is no reason to expect anything less tonight. UCLA needs to win the conference tournament if they want to make the NCAA tournament so they should leave it all on the court. CORRECT

South Florida -2 vs. Villanova = Nova is having an extremely disappointing season. Usually, when a team sweeps Nova, it's something to be proud of and put on your NCAA tournament resume, unfortunately for USF, that's not the case this season. The Bulls need to win tonight and possibly in the next round to try to get off the bubble. They are a solid defensive team and are desperate for a win. CORRECT

Central Michigan vs. Toledo -2.5 = The Rockets gave us a scare the other night when they blew a double digit lead. Thankfully, they ended the game on an 8-0 for the easy cover. The Chippewas are terrible this season so Toledo should find similar success tonight. They split during the regular season, but I'm not concerned especially because the conference tournament is in Ohio. CORRECT

NBA

L.A. Lakers -7 @ Washington Wizards = I would be surprised if lightning struck the same place twice. Kobe was off in the beginning of the game last night. He should be fine tonight since he switched back to his original mask, and the Wizards are a team I could've added to the list with Charlotte and Detroit. However, I'm sure the Lakers want to prove last night was a fluke so they shouldn't let up on the gas. Not crazy about this one though. INCORRECT - don't even get me started...

I'm confident that tonight will be better... and if it isn't... I might have to stop picking!

Rodgers That

Congrats UConn

By Dan Rodgers

I don't have much to say because the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game was surprisingly boring. The first half was low scoring and Butler couldn't make a shot in the second half, shooting 18.8 percent for the game. That's just abismal...but my heart kind of goes out to them for losing back-to-back championship games.

UConn didn't do anything special, but they did enough to win. Kemba Walker's stat-line was nothing impressive as he shot 5-19 from the field, but he had nine rebounds. If you watched the game, you would have seen some incredible plays of him jumping out of bounds to save the ball or following his shot for an offensive rebound. Plays like that are what wins a national championship.

UConn was undoubtedly the hottest team coming into the tournament, having an okay season but winning five straight games in the Big East tournament for the automatic NCAA bid. If you win five straight games in the Big East, you're a hot team because of how good the conference is.

Congrats to the Huskies, unfortunately the women won't be celebrating with them after tonight's NCAA Women's Championship.

Rodgers That

Sweet Sixteen - Thursday/Early

By Dan Rodgers

The first slate of games in the Sweet Sixteen is currently underway. Both two seeds are facing three seeds.

I have both three seeds winning their games in my bracket. That's kind of irrelevant because my bracket sucks, but nonetheless I might as well root for the teams I picked.

UConn, who was a point and a half underdog going into the game tonight, is up eight points with under four minutes to play. San Diego State has been playing them tough the entire game and there have been so many lead changes. SDST cut the lead to five and is shooting free throws. I still like UConn to win though. UPDATE: UConn

The other game is BYU vs. Florida. Jimmer is amazing and has kept BYU in the game by himself, he has 32 of BYU's 68 points. Time for overtime. Good thing I teased the game to BYU +7.

I'll write again in like 15 minutes.

Rodgers That

Tourney Time

By Dan Rodgers

I want to wish a Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. I hope you enjoy it, as well as day one of the NCAA tournament.

The last time I tried to post my bracket it didn't work, but I'll keep trying to get it up here.

I have an all one-seed Final Four...which I am not happy about at all. I think the selection crew might have done something right because all four one seeds look to be the best in their respective region. I have Ohio State beating Kansas in the finals.

I want to mix it up but I just can't do it. Pittsburgh is the weakest one seed but they're in the easiest region. BYU and Florida both got overrated in the seeds, and Kansas State and Wisconsin just aren't that good.

Ohio State looks to be the best team in the tournament so they should make it even though they have a tougher bracket with Syracuse, UNC and Kentucky. Kansas is similar to Pittsburgh, in fact, the entire right side of the bracket is just cake. Notre Dame is good but not that good, and the same goes for Purdue and Louisville. Kansas is just clearly the best team.

Duke's situation is interesting because their two seed, San Diego State, might not be that strong but they also have Texas and UConn in their region. Still, I like Duke to emerge now that Kyrie Irving is supposed to play at some point.

I am trying to find the upset, but this year it seems to be tougher than past years. My two biggest upets, call me crazy, are Penn State and Michigan State both making the Sweet Sixteen. Penn State plays great defense and doesn't turn the ball over. They have Temple in the first round and then most likely San Diego State in the second round.

Michigan State has so much talent and such a phenomenal coach that gets the best from his players come March. I think if Izzo's boys can get past UCLA, they will give two-seed Florida a run for their money (assuming Florida beats UCSB).

Besides that, I have only first round upsets, like Gonzaga, Mizzouri, Marquette and all nine seeds except ODU. I am having a tough time with the Georgetown/VCU game. I didn't expect VCU to dominate USC like they did, and Georgetown's Chris Wright is coming back from injury.

Pitt is the only one seed to play today, but there are 15 other games going on starting with Clemson and West Virginia in an hour. Enjoy the madness, and have a good St. Patty's Day...if you're old enough.

Rodgers That