Before getting to my picks, I guess I better post an update in terms of the bracket contest. Though there’s not much to post about this year, but IMO, it would be hypocritical not to post something after updating the results last year when I was among the leaders heading into the Final Four.
To be brief, our awesome leader CU as well as 123123123 can improve from their current spots. In terms of first or second, it’s not imperative to improve the scores. However in terms of winning, I believe CU will win as long as Connecticut doesn’t win both of their final two games. Of course, there’s not going to be another game for UCONN if they lose to Miami. No third place games for the NCAA Tournament. If Miami does find a way to win, then CU will win the G-R Bracket Contest while 123123123 would have to settle for a second place tie with JayC.
Randy, Jess, and Mecdaddy will finish in the Top five (or a share of it as there is a tie for fifth place).
As for the Final Four, it felt like the carnage from the past 2 weeks were going to lead me to forgoing the final 3 games. Not so fast!
It appears that the lines and the like for the second game have not moved much if at all since their release last weekend. Maybe they did, and if so they’re right back to where they were originally. San Diego State is now a 2.5 favorite, up a point from the weekend.
I’m going to go with San Diego State and Connecticut to advance to Monday’s National Championship Game. My pick of UCONN to win the Tournament Final isn’t official, but I’d pick them to win their fifth title in the past 28 years if I had to. Maybe they’ll lose to Miami, and given the history of sports, the games have to be played in order to produce a result. Sometimes the result isn’t what was expected.
I’ll pick SDSU to cover the 2.5 as well, and the over in FAU/SDSU. I think they’ll have to produce some offense and in doing so with a victory, that might help the final combined score to surpass that 131.5.
Miami/UCONN, the obvious second game, is one I’d hedge just to be petty, but I do think Connecticut will win by more than 6. It could still be a competitive game, with the 2014 NCAA champions pulling away at the end. I think Connecticut is undefeated against schools outside the Big East. Finally, I think there definitely will be 150 combined points scored, and NO! I don’t expect UCONN to get to 150+ by themselves. Jordan Hawkins’ status changed nothing in terms of who’s expected to win, but it’s worth noting
