Predictions for the 4 NCAA Games tonight
Mates,
Sweet 16 line-up starts tonight. 4 games on tap. Of course we'll all be focused on the Michigan game, but 3 others get tipped off this evening as well. The games look like this:
#2 Michigan v. #3 T-Tech - we're a 1 pt fav
#4 FSU v. #1 Gonzaga - early game in Anaheim with a 7:09 tip, Gonzaga = 7.5 pt favorites
#3 Purdue (forgot they'd advanced) v. #2 Tennessee - early game in Louisville, Tennessee = 2 pt fav
#12 Oregon v. # 1 UVA - Virginia = 8.5 pt fav
So the question is: Pick the winners, and maybe like football, pick 'em with the points.
Go Blue, big game tonight!
XM
Michigan 64 texas Tech 58.
FSU 70 Gonzaga 66.
purdue 67 Tennessee 65.
virginia 68 Oregon 56
that would be a heck of a day of hoops, and i agree with the picks. i guess i'm rooting for purdue to win, that gonzaga is overrated, and cinderella is going to get sent home.
Good night to have a Kahlua and Tomato Juice (shaken not stirred) and watch M win 71-61,
Fla St 82-79, Oregon 60-57, Purdue 77-72
re: kahlua and tomato juice, one of these days, M and M, one of these days.
Do not try it without me.
I haven’t given you all the Information/Instruction ....yet.
Students beware!
Go Blue!
March 28th, 2019 at 10:13 AM ^
would not think of trying it without you. you are going to make it right in front of me at a tailgate at the big house. can't say when, i just know its going to happen.
I feel they are going to be close but the Virginia and Oregon game.
one game really matters though.
Go blue! Become elite!
yes, I am biased. Michigan big tonight. Why, remember Florida 2013 and Texas A&M last year. I feel Beilein gets his team into another gear come the start of sweet 16.
From someone in Spokane having to deal with the Zag hype 24/7, I agree with the overrated take. Would be awesome if they got bounced by FSU two years in a row. My bracket has our boys bouncing them, but I won't be upset if they bow out tonight.
For the rest:
Good guys win. Unfortunately, Ten has too much for Purdue and Virginia brings Oregon back to earth.
Cheers all, enjoy opening day and March madness!
Go Blue
Oops
March 28th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
I don't want FSU two years in a row. You saw how pissed off Bunny Colvin was last time.
Gonzaga 77 FSU 70
Tennessee 74 Purdue 71
Michigan 59 Texas Tech 58
Virginia 66 Oregon 61
Chalk all the higher seeds win
FSU 74 Zags 70
TN 69 Boilers 61
VA 78 Ducks 67
TT 64 M 62
Welp.
Classic Don. Pessimist 'til the bitter end.
easy for you to say, you've still got flesh.
If you saw what my bracket looked like, you’d see my prediction is a kiss of death.
That said, I don’t think this team is as strong as the two teams that went to the NC game. I’m guessing another scoring drought will bite us.
It is hard to say. With last years team in particular, they were not "that strong" until all of the sudden they were. I will say this, although we did not play a team as good as Houston in the first weekend last year, this team was far more business-like in dispatching of lower seeds in dominant fashion. There is the possibility that this team is inferior to those squads, but there is also the possibility that it is a much better team than we think that just has a Michigan State bug-a-boo. I think we will get our answer tonight.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
Personally, i do not understand why people think this years team is inferior to last years team. Is it because we lost to jackass 3 times?
IMO, this team is clearly better than last years team. I do not understand how people see differently.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
This teams flaw is consistent shooting. If Livers and Poole aren't rather hot, you can (not saying will) end up with a low score. Teske is capable, but isn't consistent - certainly of late. Matthews - same exact thing. We need some easy buckets and Teske and Matthews are the ones that need to deliver with that.
Not getting into the argument over which team is better, but last year's team largely had the same shooting woes. Other than the Texas A&M game, the shooting numbers were ghastly. It's why we needed a 35-foot heave to avoid getting knocked out in the second round.
March 28th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
I don't think I can say that this team is "clearly better" than last years team. Last year's team had two players on it that have started NBA games this year, and one who is essentially being featured on his team. Beginning with the Northwestern loss last year, Michigan was essentially dominant the rest of the season with the exception of the first two rounds of the tournament. We just did not see the complete picture yet while it was happening. It is a tough call. Is this a "peaked too early" team who will fizzle, or is it the Death Squad that we saw against Villanova and UNC that has just been dormant for a while. That is why I think all of us have "butterflies" about tonight. Who are we? Gonna find out.
I think we can conclusively say we’re not as good as we were last year.
Yeah, for some reason people assume the hamblasting of A&M was the whole run of that team. They had better shooters on average because this team doesn't quite have a Mo or Duncan to consistently be a threat from deep, and MAAR was essential in late-clock situations, but defensively this squad feels better across the board and offensively they aren't as bad as people think. Yes they have scoring slumps; most teams do. But when you have a defense that can sit on a 7-point lead and not blink for 4 minutes, you can survive.
I don't think this team can win a title simply because of the road they have ahead of them; it would likely require them beating 4 of the KenPom top-10, which is a Herculean effort for anyone. But this is still a really, really good team, as good top-to-bottom as last year's simply because the defense is that much more mature, and I'm going to enjoy the ride.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
This is the old reverse jinx. I hope it works!
March 28th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^
Bite us? Likely, against one of the two best D's in the country. Kill us? Nah.
I think chalk prevails tonight but FSU and Oregon cover. Also I'm seeing Michigan -2.
Mich 60, TT 56
Zags 77, FSU 69
Purdue 75, Tenn 72 - turnovers, Cline makes a few 3's
UVA 77, Oregon 64
Tonight stands a good chance of going chalk down the line, but I will say about Michigan-Texas Tech - between those defenses, I am fully prepared for this one to look more like a typical football score than a basketball score. First to sixty would probably win the game.
Good thing you said typical football score. I was having visions of that shitstorm back in November
Now, why would you bring THAT up when I'm sooo enjoying March Madness???
Sorry, now I see I should have kept my big fat trap shut. FUCK!!!
I predict a later than 9:39 tip time due to excessive referees to the monitor. They're all terrible at their jobs, which is why they use the monitor so often.
I've a bit pessimistic on us, so I've got
Texas Tech
Gonzaga
Purdue
UVA
I am extremely curious about the FSU-Gonzaga game. I think we would beat FSU easily but really struggle with the. Zags
My bracket says Tennessee, but my heart says Purdue.
Oregon had a nice little run, but UVA is double-digits better.
Let's beat those Red Raiders blue!
March 28th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
I completely agree on your thoughts on Michigan's chances vs. FSU and Gonzaga. I just don't know that we can hold down the Zags into the 60's (which I think we would need to).
Is it just me, but I don't hate Purdue. They only win if Carsen Edwards goes off.
Michigan, Gonzaga, Tennessee, UVA.
We're hard to beat fter rest and time to properly prep. Purdue is good but not great. Tennessee, if they stay out of foul trouble, could be great. Oregon is gonna have problems with UVA defense, so if UVA can score 65 points it'll be a win.
Tennessee, Florida State, Michigan, Virginia
I think FSU will play up to their potential tonight. They can hang with anyone (except Duke/UNC) when they do.
My bracket has 12 of 16 Sweet 16 teams so Im going with my bracket..Michigan FSU UVA TENN
I think some guy on the Mgoblog bracket has 15 of 16, he got Oregon but had Nova in there. He gets props mostly for having the chaulkiest bracket, plus oregon.
one of my sons has 15/16.
Gonzaga 69 FSU 61
Purdue 71 Tennessee 67
Michigan 56 Texas Tech 51
Virginia 76 Oregon 59
March 28th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
If I were the betting type, I'd go all in on Tennessee to cover that number. Carsen Edwards had his moment against Villanova. I have a feeling he's going back to the 80 ORTG on 50% usage guy we knew in the Big Ten.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
One of my favorite times of the year in sports: Baseball's Opening Day and NCAA's Big Dance.
After the Tigers beat the Jays this afternoon, I forsee wins for Gonzaga, Purdue, UVa, and...
MEEEEECHIGAN!
March 28th, 2019 at 10:16 AM ^
they play indoors at toronto, right? says its going to be 45 degrees and raining.
i was at the first game at comerica 20 years ago. it snowed on opening day, but not a ton. no way they were going to cancel that game
March 28th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
You are correct, it's indoors. The Blue Jays don't need no global warming in order to host March baseball!
Our Tigers, though on their way to a 71-91 season, win and lead the AL Central for another day.
And no, I'm not drinking or smoking anything right now...
and through 5 innings neither team has a hit. so either the pitching is smoking hot, or.....the tigers and blue jays stink. your guess?
March 28th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Michigan by 7.
Gonzaga by 12.
Purdue by 8.
Virginia by 9.
March 28th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Michigan 58 TT 55
Zags 70 FSU 63
Tenn 80 Purdue 61 (blowout city I know)
Virginia 66 Oregon 52