Picks for Best Games on Friday, March 22nd
Yesterday’s First Round NCAA Tournament games were wild, with a couple of upsets and some monster performances. Fortunately the NCAA Tournament gives us more today with more basketball, see my against the spread picks for all of today’s NCAA Tournament action and don’t forget to catch up on the MakingtheMadness.com live blog for the day’s best highlights.
Iowa vs. Cincinnati
12:15 PM ET on CBS
Line: Cincinnati -4
Pick: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati
Final Score Prediction: Cincinnati 88 Iowa 75
Why this pick? You should probably know my thoughts on Iowa by now, so without hesitation I’m taking Cincinnati
Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss
12:40 PM ET on TruTV
Line: Ole Miss -1
Pick: Ole Miss
Against the Spread: Ole Miss
Final Score Prediction: Ole Miss 71 Oklahoma 65
Why this pick? Someone has to win this game, may as well go with the team I picked to win in my Bracket.
Northern Kentucky vs. Texas Tech
1:30 PM ET on TNT
Line: Texas Tech -13
Pick: Texas Tech
Against the Spread: Texas Tech
Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 78 Northern Kentucky 67
Why this pick? Texas Tech needed a quick loss in the Big 12 Tournament to get rested up, they should be fresh and ready to go early on today.
UC Irvine vs. Kansas State
2 PM ET on TBS
Line: Kansas State -4.5
Pick: Kansas State
Against the Spread: Kansas State
Final Score Prediction: Kansas State 62 UC Irvine 54
Why this pick? This will be a low-scoring grind it out game, although I will take the team who has won games in the NCAA Tournament.
Colgate vs. Tennessee
2:45 PM ET on CBS
Line: Tennessee -17.5
Pick: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee 83 Colgate 57
Why this pick? Tennessee will be especially mad after a loss to Auburn in the SEC Championship, I look for them to win big.
Gardner-Webb vs. Virginia
3:10 PM ET on TruTV
Line: Virginia -22
Pick: Virginia
Against the Spread: Virginia
Final Score Prediction: Virginia 88 Gardner-Webb 47
Why this pick? Virginia lost last year to UMBC, they aren’t going to get UMBC’d by Gardner-Webb, give me Virginia by 40 and yes I do mean 40.
Arizona State vs. Buffalo
4 PM ET on TNT
Line: Buffalo -5
Pick: Buffalo
Against the Spread: Buffalo
Final Score Prediction: Buffalo 77 Arizona State 64
Why this pick? The Bulls are a team I am willing to pick in the NCAA Tournament, especially with a quick turnaround for the Sun Devils.
Oregon vs. Wisconsin
4:30 PM ET on TBS
Line: Wisconsin -2
Pick: Oregon
Against the Spread: Oregon
Final Score Prediction: Oregon 56 Wisconsin 51
Why this pick? I’ll take the Ducks in a 12-5 upset, in a very boring game.
Washington vs. Utah State
6:50 PM ET on TNT
Line: Utah State -3
Pick: Utah State
Against the Spread: Utah State
Final Score Prediction: Utah State 72 Washington 56
Why this pick? I don’t want to pick Washington with the way they are playing right now.
North Dakota State vs. Duke
7:10 PM ET on CBS
Line: Duke -27
Pick: Duke
Against the Spread: Duke
Final Score Prediction: Duke 94 North Dakota State 60
Why this pick? Duke is ready for the big dance, they win this game by a bunch.
Georgia State vs. Houston
7:20 PM ET on TBS
Line: Houston -12
Pick: Houston
Against the Spread: Georgia State
Final Score Prediction: Houston 63 Georgia State 56
Why this pick? Houston will win this game but asking them to win by 13 is tough.
Liberty vs. Mississippi State
7:27 PM ET on TruTV
Line: Mississippi State -6.5
Pick: Mississippi State
Against the Spread: Mississippi State
Final Score Prediction: Mississippi State 78 Liberty 65
Why this pick? The Bulldogs have too much length for the Flames to contain.
Iona vs. North Carolina
9:20 PM ET on TNT
Line: North Carolina -23
Pick: North Carolina
Against the Spread: North Carolina
Final Score Prediction: North Carolina 89 Iona 61
Why this pick? The Tar Heels will run Iona out of the gym in this game.
UCF vs. VCU
9:40 PM ET on CBS
Line: UCF -1
Pick: UCF
Against the Spread: UCF
Final Score Prediction: UCF 64 VCU 57
Why this pick? VCU hasn’t played a team this good in a while, plus there’s the Marcus Evans injury factor, I will take the Knights in this game.
Ohio State vs. Iowa State
9:50 PM ET on TBS
Line: Iowa State -5.5
Pick: Iowa State
Against the Spread: Iowa State
Final Score Prediction: Iowa State 78 Ohio State 65
Why this pick? The Buckeyes are rolling right now, give me them in this matchup.
St. Louis vs. Virginia Tech
9:57 PM ET on TruTV
Line: Virginia Tech -10.5
Pick: Virginia Tech
Against the Spread: Virginia Tech
Final Score Prediction: Virginia Tech 66 St. Louis 50
Why this pick? It is hard to see St. Louis scoring enough to keep up with the Hokies.
Yesterday’s Picks: 6-10
Year to date: 401-340-17