The Sweet 16 commences Thursday featuring 7 SEC teams that are competing, including the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, which is tremendous for both the conference and the state. The 2nd seeded Crimson Tide (East Region) kicks off the spectacle Thursday as they square off with the 6th seeded BYU Cougars. The South Region’s No.1 seed, the Auburn Tigers, face the 5th seeded Michigan Wolverines on Friday. Brownie and EHS ’80 will have later nights watching their team. I’ll be joining them in that pursuit. I’m not an Auburn fan per se, but very interested in the Tigers and Tide always. Pretty excellent teams to be interested in.
Here’s a breakdown of the games along with White’s World’s Sports Confidential’s predictions on which teams will emerge from this round and matriculate to the coveted Elite 8, and move one step closer to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the Final Four Saturday, April 5th.
Record so far
SEC Tournament: SU-8-6, ATS: 2-6, O/U: 3-5.
Picked Florida to win it all, which they did, and Walter Clayton Jr. to win the MVP of the tournament, which he did. Used numbers for the games I had teams competing in. Bracket struggling so far, but there’s still hope.
Thursday’s games
East Region
No.2 Alabama (27-8) vs. No.6 BYU (26-9)
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ., 16,755
6:09 PM CT
CBS
Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
Bama by 5 1/2, Over/Under 175 1/2
I like Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Mouhamed Dioubate, Chris Youngblood and the emerged rim protector and
offensive weapon 6’11”, 250 center Clifford Omoruyi to lead the Tide to victory and enable them to advance to
Saturday and the Elite 8.
Alabama 92, BYU 86
West Region
No.4 Maryland (27-8) vs. No.1 Florida (32-4)
Chase Center, San Francisco, 18,064
6:39 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 156 1/2
It’s too bad the Crimson Tide and the Gators are on at roughly the same time. You either can jump, unless
you’re exclusively a Bama fan or Gators fan, or get Youtube TV on your computer and watch Florida or
Alabama that way when they run over each other on their respective broadcasts.
Gators 82, Terps 75
East Region
No.4 Arizona (24-12) vs. No.1 Duke (33-3)
Prudential Center, Newark
8:39 PM CT
CBS
Same announcers as above in East.
Duke by 9 1/2, O/U, 153 1/2
Duke is a juggernaut right now and looks unstoppable. They can be stopped, but it’ll take a heroic effort.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel and company are going to be tough to knock off. It can be done with a physical,
hard-working effort, but it’ll be a major task.
Duke 80, ‘Zona 70
West
No.10 Arkansas (22-13) vs. No.3 Texas Tech (27-8)
Chase Center, SF
9:09 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Texas Tech by 5 1/2, O/U 148 1/2
Give me Cal and the Hogs in the upset.
Hogs 72, Red Raiders 70
Friday
South Region
No. 6 Ole Miss (24-11) vs. No.2 Michigan State (29-6)
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, 16,888
6:09 PM CT
CBS
Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace
Mich. State by 3 1/2, O/U, 143 1/2
This is a tough one because I think the Rebels have a real shot here. However, I’ve got Tom Izzo and his
Spartans advancing to the Elite 8, so I’ll take them in a slugfest.
Michigan State 70, Ole Miss 68
Midwest
No.3 Kentucky (24-11) vs. No.2 Tennessee (29-7)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 67,000, maybe not that many allowed in game.
6:39 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Tennessee by 4 1/2, O/U, 144 1/2
The Vols lost not once, but twice to the Wildcats, 78-73 at home, and 75-64 on the road. They’re a better
team now. It’s hard to beat a team three times as the old basketball adage goes, so I like the Vols to move on
to the Elite 8. The Vols’ defense, which is prolific, should be the difference.
Tennessee 73, Kentucky 70
South
No.6 Michigan (27-9) vs. No.1 Auburn (30-5)
State Farm Arena
8:39 PM CT
CBS
Tigers by 8 1/2, O/U, 154 1/2
I like Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazzara and the star studded company to get the
job done for the Auburn Tigers. Willie and Hamilton will be chanting, “It’s Great to Be..” loudly Friday
Night/Saturday morning? at Otey’s.
Auburn 78, Michigan 75
Midwest
No. 4 Purdue (24-11) vs. No.1 Houston (32-4)
Lucas Oil
9:09 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Houston by 7 1/2, O/U, 132 1/2
The Cougars are one team that can definitely hang with Duke. There are some others, but Houston really
sticks out to me as one of those teams. They are highly athletic, they can score and are elite defenders and
rebounders.
Houston 67, Purdue 59
Saturday, Elite 8 Predictions
8 Responses
Give me the over in the BYU-Bama game. I also like Duke to cover. The Hogs are starting to Boogie so I like your upset special. It will be fun to watch. Thanks for the previews DW.
Thanks for the picks. With their twin towers, I’m leaning towards Michigan in an upset. I’m with you on the rest.
RTR & Go Blazers in NIT!
Thanks, Fellas
DW – I thought that this tourney might be very chalky and in general it has been.
I like your picks.
I do think as noted that the AU and Florida brackets were tougher than the other two. I think Alabama is in a good position to only have to play one game to get the the Final 4 but it’s against a very formidable opponent in Duke.
Thanks for the previews and predictions, DW! Clifford Omoruyi has been controlling the paint. He’s a tremendous low post player. Look forward to watching the games!
Thanks, MB, E!
I like your picks. Sears needs to get his stroke back and a healthy Nelson would make a difference. Exciting time to be a sports fan with baseball cranking up and the Masters around the corner.
No doubt, WP. Thanks a lot.