Ncaa Final Four - March 16, 2008

We got hooked yesterday losing two games by a half point each. The Wisconsin loss in particular was tough to take as we needed one point to push and two to win with a 91% free-throw shooter on the line at the end of the game shooting two. He missed both. Oh well. Tody we bounce back! We have four plays.

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: Clemson vs. North Carolina (1:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 154.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)

These teams have played very competitive against each other with both games going to OT. These games saw 196 and 178 points scored, but more importantly 164 and 162 before OT. The Tar Heels are putting up about 90 per game and the Tigers about 80. Both these teams give it up on the other end, with the Heels allowing 72.5 and the Tigers nearly 70. This one should be played in the 80s, and fun to watch, especially if your on the OVER.

The least interesting matchup of the day takes place in the Southwestern Conference Championship game in Katy, Texas. But we are interested. This game features a #5 seed and a #7 seed so anything can happen. The winner gets a bid to the Big Dance so a lot is on the line for these small schools. But it means more to Texas Arlington as this would be their first invititation. Northwestern State if you recall won this tournament last year and actually beat Iowa in the opening round of the NCAAs. UT-Arlington is shooting for a school record 21st win and we think they get it. They are 20-11 on the season while Northwestern State is just 15-17. The offenses are very similar while UTA owns the better defense (68 ppg allowed vs. 79.4 for NWS). We like the dog here to win outright.

There is a big opportunity here for both these teams. Tennessee and Georgetown lost, so there is no arguement that the winner will be granted a #1 seed in tourney. The Horns proved they can play with Jayhawks, with solid regular season win. They took it right at the Jayhawks, got them in foul trouble, and converted FT's dispite shooting just 40% from the floor. They ruled the glass, and dominated the paint, blocking eight Kansas shots. After a 20-0 start, things haven't been quite so easy for the Jayhawks as they have lost three, and gone just 4-9 ATS. Texas has a chance for the out-right win here, so the points sweeten the value.

Sometimes teams just defy the odds to win games and win tournaments. Georgia right now is that team. After suffering damage to the Georgia Dome, the Bulldogs were faced with the unheard of task of playing two tournament games in one day yesterday. They disposed of Kentucky and then top-seeded Ole Miss. Why can't they win this one? They are tired? That didn't show in knocking off the #1 seed in their second game yesterday. Yes, we know they only won four SEC games all season, but they have just won three in a row as underdogs of 3.5, 4.5 and 10 points. The Bulldogs have the best defense in this game as Arkansas has allowed 76.8 per game over their last five. Dennis Felton is now 14-5 in conference tournament games and we'll ride him and the magic ride the Bulldogs are on to another win here.

Results: 2-2

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• View our updated NCAA basketball sports book.
• Check out our updated college basketball handicapping philosophy.
• View our updated ncaa basketball tournament picks.
• Hop over to our 2007 college basketball gambling preivew here.
• View our NCAA basketball Game-of-Day-Preview here.
• Don't forget to read our 2007 college basketball prior pick results here.
• View our updated ncaa tournament picks.
• Here we show our NCAA basketball ATS standings.
• Don't forget to read our college basketball picks blog here.
• Check out free NCAA basketball picks here.
• Check out NCAA basketball picks here.
• Don't forget to visit our NCAA basketball odds lines and spreads.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-March-15-2008
Hartford? UMBC? Who the heck are they? Exactly. We think there's value on this game, in part due to the lack of attention to this America East Conference title game. We think the dog has a good sh...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-March-14-2008
The Buckeyes played in the National Championship game last season. Now they are fighting for a birth to into the tournament. They beat the Spartans on Sunday by 9 points but that was a home game for t...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-March-13-2008
We had to ponder some numbers regarding Georgetown. Why does a team that shoots 48.3% and 37.1% from three-point range, as well as the best FG percentage defense in the country at 36.4% (and just 29.1...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-March-12-2008
Saint Louis has sure put up some ugly numbers this season, none worse than their 14% shooting, 20-point effort against George Washington. Their last two games have been almost equally ugly, falling by...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-March-11-2008
These teams are about as even as it gets. Especially since Indiana-Purdue won by three points at home then and lost at Oral Roberts by one. There is one big difference. Caleb Green was the best player...