–LVSC has Washington as a six-point favorite over Utah State, with the total listed at 141. CBS Sports will provide coverage of this game beginning Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Utah State (24-9 SU, 9-15 ATS) extended Nevada to overtime in Saturday’s WAC final on the Wolfpack’s home court before falling as a 6 1/2-point underdog, 70-63. The combined 133 points toppled the 131-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest.
–Head coach Stew Morrill’s team is led by forward Nate Harris (17.2 points per game, 7.5 rebounds) and guard Jaycee Carroll (16.1 ppg). The Aggies are a smart team that will try to grind out victories, and this style sometimes creates problems for opponents.
–Utah State lays claim to a 7-7 SU and 3-7 ATS road record.
–Washington (25-6 SU, 13-15 ATS) earned second place during the Pac-10 regular season, but was bounced out of the conference tournament by Oregon Thursday in the quarterfinals as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 84-73. The combined 157 points went ‘over’ the 143-point closing total.
–The Huskies entered halftime with a comfortable lead, 41-30, but were outscored 54-32 in the second half. Washington is led by conference player of the year Brandon Roy, who averaged almost 20 points and six rebounds per contest.
–Washington maintains a 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS road record.
**Air Force (13) versus Illinois (4)**
–LVSC installed Illinois as a nine-point ‘chalk’ over Air Force, with the total set at 112. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this first-round tilt Thursday at 7:25 p.m. from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Air Force (24-6 SU, 13-7 ATS) might have a chip on its shoulder heading into this contest after widely being criticized for making the NCAA Tournament over a couple other teams. The Falcons set a school record for victories and their matchup zone creates havoc for opponents, especially for teams that are not used to seeing it.
–Air Force fell to Wyoming Thursday in the Mountain West Tournament in a ‘non-board’ affair, 57-55. The Falcons are winless in the postseason since the 1990 campaign.
–Head coach Jeff Bzdelik’s team is led by senior point guard Antoine Hood (14.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 2.7 apg) and some 3-point bombers. Air Force spent a good chunk of the season being ranked first nationally in scoring defense, yielding just under 54 points per contest.
–Illinois (27-6 SU, 16-11 ATS) is seeking its second consecutive Final Four appearance after reaching last year’s title game. The Fighting Illini were knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament by Michigan State Friday as a 3 1/2-point favorite, 75-68. The combined 143 points went ‘over’ the 133-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to occur the fifth game in a row.
–Senior guard Dee Brown controls the keys to this offense, while big man James Augustine is often overlooked. The Illinois defense is also solid, usually limiting opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
–The Illini sport a 6-4 SU and ATS road record.
**Seton Hall (10) versus Wichita State (7)**
–LVSC opened Wichita State as a two-point favorite over Seton Hall, with the total listed at 122. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this contest Thursday at 12:20 p.m. ET from Greensboro Coliseum.
–Seton Hall (18-11 SU, 14-12 ATS) skidded its way into the tournament after stumbling to a 2-4 SU and ATS record its last six games. The Pirates were bounced out of the Big East Tournament in the first round by Rutgers as a 1 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 61-48. The combined 109 points fell well below the 134 1/2-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to occur the third straight contest.
–Inconsistency has been Seton Hall’s problem all season, and the team will have to correct that versus the Shockers or get bounced out in the opening round.
–The Pirates own a 5-6 SU and 7-4 ATS record away from home.
–Wichita State (26-8 SU, 13-13 ATS) was knocked out of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament by Bradley March 4 in the semifinals as a two-point favorite, 60-52. The combined 112 points went ‘under’ the 131-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
–The Shockers were solid down the stretch, going 12-3 SU their last 15 games to capture the regular season crown. Senior center Paul Miller is the key, averaging 12.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg while forward Kyle Wilson and guards Sean Ogirri and P.J. Couisnard provide a balanced attack.
–Wichita State is 8-6 SU and 7-6 ATS away from home, with the ‘under’ going 9-4.
**Winthrop (15) versus Tennessee (2)**
–LVSC has Tennessee listed as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk’ over Winthrop, with the total set at 138 ½. This first-round matchup will take place Thursday at Greensboro Coliseum, with CBS Sports providing coverage beginning at 2:40 p.m. ET.
–Winthrop (23-7 SU, 2-1 ATS) slipped past Coastal Carolina to capture the Big South Tournament’s automatic bid in a ‘non-board’ affair, 51-50. The Eagles also advanced last season, falling to Gonzaga in the opening round as a 14th-seed, 74-64.
–Winthrop is not a guaranteed win or cover contest, as the Eagles beat Marquette this season while dropping close contests at Alabama, Auburn and Memphis. Junior guard Torrell Martin paces the balanced offense, while center Craig Bradshaw averages six rebounds per game.
–The Eagles are 7-6 SU and 1-0 ATS on the road.
–Tennessee (23-7 SU, 17-8 ATS) was a surprise second seed, since the Vols were a pedestrian 2-4 SU and ATS its last six games. Tennessee is off Friday’s setback to South Carolina in the SEC quarterfinals as a four-point ‘chalk,’ 79-71. The combined 150 points toppled the 140-point closing total.
–The Vols have holes in their game that might be exposed later in the tournament, finishing last in the conference in field-goal percentage defense. Tennessee is also not very deep, and has just two players over 6' 5'’.
–The Vols are a solid 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS away from home.
–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed UConn as a decided 22-point favorite over Albany, with the total listed at 7:25 p.m. ET. CBS Sports will begin its coverage of this first-round matchup Friday at 7:25 p.m. ET from Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
–Albany (21-10 straight up, 2-1 against the spread) cashed its NCAA Tournament ticket by winning the America East title. The Great Danes knocked off Vermont in the league championship game Saturday in a ‘non-board’ affair, 80-67.
–Albany has only been a Division-I program for seven years, making its first-ever appearance in the Big Dance. The Great Danes are powered by league player of the year Jamar Wilson, who averages 17.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
–Albany is a modest 8-7 SU when playing on the road, and 1-1 ATS.
–UConn (29-3 SU, 15-10 ATS) garnered the top seed in the Washington DC Region, and is gunning for its third championship. The Huskies fell to Syracuse Thursday in their only Big East Tournament game in overtime as an 11 1/2-point Madison Square Garden ‘chalk,’ 86-84. The combined 170 points soared ‘over’ the 147-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 3-1 the past four games.
–Coach Jim Calhoun will use the first-round ouster to Syracuse as motivation for the NCAA Tournament, and this veteran team should go along way. UConn has advanced to the Final Four twice, winning the championship both times.
–The Huskies maintain a 10-1 SU and 9-3 ATS ledger when playing on the road.
**UAB (9) versus Kentucky (8)**
–LVSC opened Kentucky as a 2 1/2-point ‘chalk’ over Alabama-Birmingham, with the total set at 138. CBS Sports starts its coverage of this first-round tilt Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
–Alabama-Birmingham (24-6 SU, 13-12 ATS) earned one of the at-large bids after falling to Memphis in the Conference USA championship game Saturday as a 9 1/2-point underdog, 57-46. The combined 103 points never seriously threatened the 148 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ occur the third game in a row.
–The Blazers actually have some tournament history with Kentucky when they bounced the top-seeded Wildcats in 2004 as a 10 1/2-point underdog, 76-75. The combined 151 points slithered ‘under’ the 152-point closing total.
–Senior point guard Squeaky Johnson is the key to UAB with his defensive ability coupled with his propensity to penetrate on offense and dish the ball to open players. The Blazers boast a lot of depth, but are not tall and tend to get beaten on the boards.
–UAB is 8-5 SU and 7-5 ATS when playing away from home.
–Kentucky (23-12 SU, 14-15 ATS) is off Saturday’s setback to South Carolina in the SEC semifinals as a two-point favorite, 65-61. The combined 126 points slithered ‘under’ the 126 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 5-1-1 the past seven games.
–Expect veteran post-player Randolph Morris to step up this tournament, along with Rajon Rondo and his penetrating attacks. The Wildcats will get bounced however if they struggle behind the 3-point line.
–Kentucky sports an 8-4 SU and 10-2 ATS road record.
**George Mason (11) versus Michigan State (6)**
–LVSC has Michigan State as a five-point favorite over George Mason, with the total listed at 125 ½. CBS Sports starts its coverage of this game Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET from Dayton Arena.
–George Mason (23-7 SU, 16-9 ATS) is an at-large selection from the Colonial Athletic Association after falling to Hofstra March 5 in the conference tournament as a four-point favorite, 58-49. The combined 107 points never seriously threatened the 132 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ occur its second game in a row.
–The Patriots will be without the services of guard Tony Skinn, who is expected to miss this contest with the Spartans due to a one-game suspension due to a cheap shot.
–George Mason was 9-5 SU and 8-4 ATS this season away from home.
–George Mason actually faced Michigan State back in the 2004-05 season, falling to the Spartans as a 14 1/2-point road underdog, 66-60.
–Michigan State (24-11 SU, 13-17 ATS) is just 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS its last four games after falling to Iowa Saturday in the Big Ten semifinals as a 1 1/2-point favorite, 53-48. The combined 101 points failed to eclipse the 128 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 4-1 the previous five games.
–The Spartans advanced to the Final Four last season as a 12th seed, and still have Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown and Paul Davis from that squad. That experience should translate into another solid tournament run.
–Michigan State sports a 5-8 SU and 4-9 ATS road record.
**Murray State (14) versus North Carolina (3)**
–LVSC installed defending champion North Carolina as a 12-point ‘chalk’ over Murray State, with the total listed at 141 ½. CBS Sports will start coverage of this matchup Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET from Dayton Arena.
–Murray State (25-6 SU, 11-17 ATS) clinched its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance after routing Samford March 4 in the Ohio Valley Conference title game as a five-point underdog, 74-57. The combined 131 points soared ‘over’ the 116-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘under’ outings.
–The Racers have four seniors playing major minutes, and they play a slow and deliberate style of ball. Murray State has six players averaging between 7.6 and 10.8 points per contest, and will need a balanced attack to avoid a blowout.
–The Racers are 9-5 SU and 6-7 ATS this season on the road.
–North Carolina (22-7 SU, 17-8 ATS) is the defending champions, but the Tar Heels don’t have any starters back from last year’s squad. Coach Roy Williams’ team is off Saturday’s setback to Boston College in the ACC semifinals as a 3 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 85-82. The combined 167 points eclipsed the 142 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 9-1 the previous 10 outings.
–Youth and inexperience might trip up North Carolina this tournament considering the top-seven scorers have moved on from Carolina blue. Freshman forward Tyler Hansbrough (18.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg) has been a force during the regular campaign, but the Big Dance is another level.
–The Tar Heels own an impressive 8-2 SU and ATS road record.
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