Scott Delaney
On to my complimentary winner for tonight, as I keep it rolling after last night's winner on North Carolina A&T improved my
free-pick run to
93-72-5. I've actually won with my freebie the past three nights, and will keep it right here in Las Vegas for
Free Pick Winner #4 in a Row, and roll with a Pac 12 winner on the Utah Utes plus the points against the Southern Cal Trojans at the MGM Grand Garden.
The winner of this game gets top-seeded UCLA, and as much as most people would like to see L.A.-based rivals USC and UCLA get it on tomorrow, I'm here to tell you the Utes have other plans.
This has been nothing more than another forgettable basketball season for the Trojans, and even though they're seeded higher than Utah, I like the scrappiness the Utes exude when they step on the floor.
Their record may not indicate it what they actually do on the hardwood, and there's no doubt we've seen them play terribly in all facets of the game, but I also saw them close out the season by knocking off both Oregon schools. So forget about that 76-59 ass whooping the Trojans out on Utah back on Jan. 12, it's all about the teams that are bringing momentum into the postseason.
And knowing Utah finished the season strong by winning four of five games, including that double-digit win over No. 19 Oregon last weekend, it's clear which one of these teams has the momentum flow.
Utah moved into this conference last season and dropped its first-round contest to Colorado. This year it is fully capable of scoring its first tournament win in this conference, especially with one of the top offenses in the league, particularly from beyond the arc.
Southern Cal has lost 5 of 6 at the window against Pac 12 foes, while Utah is on ATS win streaks of 4-1 after an ATS cover and 6-2 in conference play.
Take the underdog here boys.
1? UTAH
CRAIG DAVIS
Wednesday nights comp play is the New Mexico Lobos over the Wyoming Cowboys.
I will return by 4:00 pm eastern time with my analysis.
3? NEW MEXICO
BRAD WILTON
Bonus Play winner for Wednesday comes out of the NBA.
Time for the Warriors to get healthy at the expense of a Pistons team that appears to be on life-support.
I know Golden State has won just 3 of their last 9 games, but they did just limit New York to 63 points in a 29 point win and cover at home on Monday, and those 3 wins have come in their last 5 games, so perhaps Mark Jackson's team is getting recharged for a late season surge.
The same cannot be said for the Pistons, losers of 6 in a row and 9 of 10. The points haven't even been of any help for this Detroit club, as they have dropped 8 of their past 10, and have failed in all 3 in that span when getting double-digits!
Lest you feel the Pistons are "due", think again, as the Warriors have had little problem with Golden State, winning the last 3 series meetings and 4 of the last 5 overall while also covering in the last pair and 3 of the 5.
Time for Golden State to continue their winning ways, and for Detroit to get blasted one more time.
Lay it with the Warriors.
4? GOLDEN STATE
(on a 1? to 5? basis)
BRAD ATKINS
My free winner for Wednesday is going to be a matinee game out of the Conference USA, as I head to the Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and play Southern Methodist catching points from Alabama-Birmingham.
Seeded 10th, SMU (15-16, 5-11 C-USA) isn't necessarily that far off from the seventh-seeded Blazers (15-16, 7-9 C-USA), and will actually be out for revenge today. The Mustangs lost 74-69 at UAB on March 2 after Cannen Cunningham's game-tying 3-point attempt with 12 seconds left clanked off target. UAB's Rod Rucker went on to ice the game with a pair of free throws.
Now it's time for payback.
And on this neutral court in Tulsa, look for the 'Stangs' stingy defense to be the difference today. SMU leads the league in field goal percentage defense (.397) and free throw percentage (.745), while it also ranks third in the league in scoring defense (63.0).
Trust me, this is not a bad basketball team, and I honestly wouldn't be surprsied to see it make a run after winning this game. On deck for the winner of this game is second-seeded Southern Miss, which the Mustangs gave fits to back on Jan. 16 in the teams' only meeting this season, losing just 74-70.
And allow me to shed a little light, the Mustangs opened the campaign winning eight of their first nine games, including wins over TCU of the Big 12 and Utah of the Pac 12.
As for its losses, SMU's last 12 have come by a rather respectable margin of 6.75 points per setback.
And while the Blazers are mired in ATS losing streaks of 2-6 after an ATS loss, 3-7 after a straight-up setback and 5-17 on neutral courts, SMU has covered four of five against losing teams.
Take the underdog in this one.
2? SOUTHERN METHODIST
Based on a scale of 1? to 5?