Michael Cannon
30 Dime –
OKLAHOMA STATE
Take Oklahoma State as the small dog over Tennessee in the first round of the East Regional.
I haven’t trusted the Vols all season long and I’m not about to hop on their bandwagon now. Tennessee simply hasn’t lived up to its potential and they’re going to be in for a huge surprise today against an Oklahoma State team that was red-hot down the stretch.
The Cowboys won six of their last seven to close out the regular season, going 7-0 ATS. They reached the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament before losing to Missouri.
I love the tempo Oklahoma State plays and they are also a very dangerous perimeter team. If they’re able to extend the Vols defense that will help neutralize the frontcourt combination of Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism.
Tennessee is just 1-4 ATS in its last five against the Big 12, 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine as an NCAA tournament chalk and 2-5 ATS in its last seven non-conference games. The Cowboys are on ATS runs of 9-1 in their last 10 overall and 16-7-2 in their last 25 neutral-site games.
Take the points with Oklahoma State as they get it done over Tennessee.
5 Dime –
UTAH STATE
Take the points with Utah State in the West Regional over Marquette.
Much has been made of Marquette’s struggles down the stretch after losing senior point guard Dominic James. His absence has left a glaring hole in the Golden Eagles lineup and I expect Utah State to give Marquette a serious run here as a result.
It’s not like the Aggies are some overmatched little school here. They won 30 games this season and knocked off host Nevada in the Western Athletic Conference title game.
Utah State enters this game on a 4-0 SU run, and five of its last six wins were double-digit routs in WAC play.
Marquette is on ATS slides of 4-7 overall, 1-4 as a chalk and 1-4-1 in non-conference play. Utah State is on positive ATS runs of 10-4 in non-conference action, 9-3 at neutral sites, 6-1 as an underdog and 6-1 as a neutral-site dog.
Give the Aggies the venue edge as well, as this game is being played in Boise.
Take the points with Utah State as they have a good chance at pulling off the outright win.
(I bought this today because he was on fire yesterday, Good luck to everyone):cripwalk:
