Day II - Last 4 games preview

We are almost done with the first round.  There are only 4 more games to go.  There are 4 games going on right now, and Kansas is looking every bit the #1 seed.  Duke is also looking solid.  The other two games look like they are going to come down to the wire, as expected.

I think the last 4 games will probably shake out the same way as these 4.  Two will be close to blow outs and the other two will be close.

Miami / Michigan State

Miami: 98

Michigan State: 127

Vegas Line: Miami by 2

This isn't one of the vintage Michigan State teams that we've seen in the past, but that hasn't stopped people from picking them.  I think a lot of people have won money in these pools riding Michigan State (myself included), so we'll see if they can live up to the advanced billing.  I tend to think that this Miami team is pretty good (and maybe underseeded).  Again, this is a tie-breaker game, since only 13 people have picked the winner of this game to make the Sweet 16.

Kentucky / Northern Kentucky

Kentucky: 221

Northern Kentucky: 4

Vegas Line: Kentucky by 20

I honestly didn't know the mascot for Northern Kentucky until I was getting a t-shirt from there.  Apparently, they are the Norse.  It seems like a strange mascot for someone from Northern Kentucky, but maybe there are a lot of Norse that emigrated there.  I honestly have never been there, so I don't know.  I need Wichita State to win their game so they can have the grudge match with Kentucky in the second round.  Remember back when Wichita State was a #1 seed and undefeated a few years back, and the committee decided to make Kentucky an 8 seed.  That was really bad seeding.  I want Wichita State to get their revenge in the second round.  They both need to win to make that happen.

South Carolina / Marquette

South Carolina: 71

Marquette: 154

Vegas Line: South Carolina by 1.5

Wow.  This was probably the biggest surprise in the 1st round for me.  I figured this would be a toss up, but people really love Marquette.  I took Marquette, but I could just as easily have taken South Carolina.  I think South Carolina was ranked at some point during the season and I don't think that Marquette ever was.  There seems to be an awful lot of disrespect for the Gamecocks in this game.  I bet it's close.

UCLA / Kent State

UCLA: 222

Kent State: 3

Vegas Line: UCLA by 18.5

I feel like I'm obliged to root for the MAC team every tournament.  Just because I'll be rooting for them doesn't mean that I think they are going to win.  I'm not crazy.  I graduated from a MAC school, so I always pull for the one representative they get every year.  I think this is a pretty weak MAC entry this year, so I'm not holding out much hope.  Besides, a lot of smart people like UCLA to make the Final 4.  That doesn't bode well for the Golden Flashes.

Goo d luck to everyone!!!!!