Today should be considered a national holiday. This is one of the only times of the year that it is completely acceptable to gamble with friends, family and coworkers and most of America takes advantage of it. It's sad how I'd rather watch the Selection Sunday process every year than deal with most other sports. The actual selection show has become just as important as the games due to where teams end up being seeded.
All throughout the this year's tournament I'll be giving my predictions on each of the games in what I hope will be a more successful year than last year for me. The four games that have already been played this week are now considered Round 1 so I'll be referring to this round as just the Round of 64 to make it easier. I don't have any huge upsets for today's games, but look back tomorrow as I feel a couple of high seeds will be going home. Here are today's picks.
Thursday's Games:
#14 Valparaiso (26-7, 13-3 Horizon) vs. #3 Michigan State (25-8, 13-5 BIG 10) @ 12:15 on CBS
The Spartans didn't get any help from the selection committee this year. If they had been thrown in in the West bracket I might have had them actually making it to the Final Four. Instead they are stuck having to play both Louisville and Duke before reaching the Final Four. Today's game shouldn't be too hard for Michigan State as they will be the bigger and more physical team. Valpo will play a decent game but will not have enough as they go against one of the BIG 10 powerhouses.
My Prediction: #3 Michigan State win 73-58
#11 Bucknell (28-5, 12-2 Patriot) vs. #6 Butler (26-8, 11-5 Atlantic 10) @ 12:40 on TRU TV
Bucknell and Butler both come from small conferences and every year seem to see them in the tournament come March. I think Butler will be the better team today, but can they get past a possible match-up with Marquette in the Round of 32?
My Prediction: #6 Butler win 68-61
#9 Wichita State (26-8, 12-6 MWC) vs. #8 Pittsburgh (24-8, 12-6 Big East) @ 1:40 on TBS
Pittsburgh has always been one of those teams that seems to underachieve when they are in the spotlight. I'm thinking that without the added pressure of a high seed this year that they are going to make some noise and possibly move on to the Sweet 16 past Gonzaga. The Panthers should take down the Shockers today.
My Prediction: #8 Pittsburgh win 67-60
#13 New Mexico State (24-10, 14-4 WAC) vs. #4 Saint Louis (27-6, 13-3 Atlantic 10) @ 2:10 on TNT
A lot of ESPN's analysts have been high on Saint Louis for the tournament this year. Former head coach Rick Majerus had to step down due to medical reasons before the Billikens season started and later died of heart failure in December. The Billikens played well all season in their coaches absence and will likely continue that today.
My Prediction: #4 Saint Louis win 71-59
#11 Saint Mary's (28-6, 14-2 WCC) vs. #6 Memphis (30-4, 16-0 Conference USA) @ 2:45 on CBS
The Memphis Tigers aren't the same team that they once were when John Calipari coached there, but they had an excellent year in Conference USA. The Saint Mary's Gaels had to win their play-in game on Tuesday night to get there and that win will likely be there only win.
My Prediction: #6 Memphis win 66-64
#14 Davidson (26-7, 17-1 Southern) vs. #3 Marquette (23-8, 14-4 Big East) @ 3:10 on TRU TV
The Golden Eagles of Marquette didn't seem to get a lot of attention this year even though they finished going 14-4 in conference. Vander Blue will be leading the Golden Eagles today as they will likely get the win over the Davidson Wildcats. As good as Davidson might be, they just don't have another Steph Curry suiting up every game.
My Prediction: #3 Marquette win 69-54
#16 Southern (23-9, 15-3 SWAC) vs. #1 Gonzaga (31-2, 16-0 WCC) @ 4:10 on TBS
The Zags have had their greatest season in school history up to this point in earning a number one seed and being ranked first in the nation for the first time in school history. They coasted through the WCC and should be victorious by a large margin today.
My Prediction: #1 Gonzaga win 80-57
#12 Oregon (26-8, 12-6 Pac-12) vs. #5 Oklahoma State (24-8, 13-5 Big 12) @ 4:40 on TNT
The Pac-12 didn't get any love this year from the selection committee as Oregon was left with a very low 12 seed. They should have been in the 8 or 9 range at least and will likely not have enough to beat the five seed Oklahoma State. Freshman guard Marcus Smart will likely decide how this game ends. Smart has been the Cowboys' best player all season and if they are going to progress it will be because of him.
My Prediction: #5 Oklahoma State win 72-69
#16 North Carolina A&T (20-16, 8-8 MEAC) vs. #1 Louisville (29-5, 14-4 Big East) @ 6:50 on TBS
No 16 seed has ever defeated a 1 seed in tournament history and I don't expect it to happen today. NC A&T would likely not beat any team from the Big East Conference so I'm expecting Peyton Siva and the Cardinals to walk right through them today. This game should be over by halftime.
My Prediction: #1 Louisville win 78-54
#13 South Dakota State (25-9, 13-3 Summit) vs. #4 Michigan (26-7, 12-6 BIG 10) @ 7:15 on CBS
Nate Wolters had a terrific year for the Jackrabbits this year and could have helped them walk away with an upset had they had an easier opponent. The Wolverines have been one of the best teams all year and should be able to slow down Wolters enough avoid the upset.
My Prediction: #4 Michigan win 72-65
#11 Belmont (26-6, 14-2 OVC) vs. #6 Arizona (25-7, 12-6 Pac-12) @ 7:20 on TNT
The Wildcats have been trying to regain the prominence they once had while Lute Olson was manning the sideline and today will be a step in the right direction for them. Belmont have had a successful season, but they will struggle playing with the larger Wildcats.
My Prediction: #6 Arizona win 70-59
#12 California (20-11, 12-6 Pac-12) vs. #5 UNLV (25-9, 10-6 MWC) @ 7:27 on TRU TV
The Running Rebels were one of the best teams in the late 80s and early 90s and haven't been able reach those heights ever since. California didn't have a great season in a weak Pac-12 so I'm going with UNLV in this one.
My Prediction: #5 UNLV win 70-67
#9 Missouri (23-10, 11-7 SEC) vs. #8 Colorado State (25-8, 11-5 MWC) @ 9:20 on TBS
The Missouri Tigers enjoyed limited success in moving to the SEC this year. Colorado State had a very good season in the MWC and this game appears to be a toss up. I'm giving the slight advantage to the Tigers as they had to play in a deeper SEC.
My Prediction: #9 Missouri win 65-64
#12 Akron (26-6, 14-2 MAC) vs. #5 VCU (26-8, 12-4 Atlantic 10) @ 9:45 on CBS
The VCU Rams went from being in the play-in game to the Final Four in 2011 and haven't been overlooked ever since. Coach Shaka Smart has done a lot with a small school that most didn't really know prior to his four years as head coach. This could be the last season we see Smart behind the VCU bench as other schools could try to persuade him to leave the Rams. I'm expecting them to make easy work of the 12 seed Akron Zips.
My Prediction: #5 VCU win 68-63
#14 Harvard (19-9, 11-3 Ivy League) vs. #3 New Mexico (29-5, 13-3 MWC) @ 9:50 on TNT
Harvard might have the smartest basketball team in the tournament, but they definitely aren't one of the best. They will rely on a four-guard lineup that will likely struggle against the Lobos. New Mexico finished first in the MWC this year in what has started to look like a promising basketball conference. Expect the Lobos to win by double digits.
My Prediction: #3 New Mexico win 74-62
#13 Montana (25-6, 19-1 Big Sky) vs. #4 Syracuse (26-9, 11-7 Big East) @ 9:57 on TRU TV
The last game of the night features the Syracuse Orange who could be on upset alert. As much as I dislike the Orange I just don't see them going out this early in the tournament. Between Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche they should have enough to slow down Montana. The Orange should win a close game as they never seem to make it easy for themselves.
My Prediction: #4 Syracuse win 69-66
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