Preview of next 4 games

 Before I really settle in to watch this inexplicable Gonzaga / Georgia State game, I’m going to give a breakdown of the first 4 late games:

Vegas Line: Connecticut -6.5

Picks for Connecticut: 159

Picks for New Mexico State: 53

It’s another 5/12 game for your viewing pleasure.  I don’t feel at all confident about Connecticut in this one after just having watch Iowa lose as a 9.5 point favorite.  New Mexico State is no slouch here, which is why 53 people took them.  Honestly, I’m not sure people thought much about this game since this is supposed to be the Gonzaga invitational bracket.

Vegas Line: Kentucky -18.5

Picks for Kentucky: 209

Picks for St. Peter’s: 3

OK, I don’t love Kentucky.  They are kind of in the same orbit as Duke for me, only slightly less so.  I never really root for them, even when they are mediocre and I usually like when they lose.  That being said, 18.5 is a lot of points.  St. Peter’s also has one of the cooler t-shirts I own, as they are the peacocks, and the t-short is kind of a teal blue.  Not sure if they will wear anything like that in this game, but it will look cool if they do.

Vegas Line: St. Mary’s -2.5

Picks for: St. Mary’s: 128

Picks for Indiana: 84

So, I encourage people to not overlook the play-in winners as they’ve won a game in the general draw something like 75% of the time.  What that means for this game is that anyone could take it.  I am a little torn as I think this St. Mary’s team was underseeded at 5, but I also usually like the play-in winner.  The line is only 2.5, so the oddsmakers seem to think it will be close as well.  I think I’ll root for St. Mary’s.  My love for smaller schools over mediocre power conference teams that I don’t think should be invited.

Vegas Line: San Diego State -2.5

Picks for San Diego State: 145

Picks for Creighton: 67

It’s the afternoon t-shirt game!!!  Not only that, I’ve gone to three colleges in my life, and San Diego State is the only one that made the tournament this year, so I am absolutely wearing my SDSU t-shirt for this one.  Notice that the line for this game and St. Mary’s/Indiana is the same, but 17 more people have taken SDSU as an #8 than took St. Mary’s as a #5.  I am going to say that is regional bias, since I am based out of San Diego, and a lot of people I know are either from here or came from here.  The one big exception is a co-worker of mine named Creighton, who is going with the Blue Jays for obvious reasons.  Can’t really argue with that.  If there was a Klei College playing, I’d take them too.

 

Good luck to everyone!!!!!  Back with standings soon.