Can Scottie Reynolds lead Villanova to a second straight Final Four?
West Region
#7 BYU vs. #10 Florida (12:25 P.M. ET)
Odds – Spread: BYU -5 ½, Moneyline: -225, Over/Under: 147
Florida beat Michigan State earlier this season and gave Kentucky all they had twice, lost to South Alabama at home, finished only 9-7 in the SEC, and lost in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, but they were still awarded a berth in the field of 65 on Sunday.
Will they prove they deserved it over the likes of Mississippi State, Illinois, and Virginia Tech? I certainly don’t see BYU running away with this one. The Gators lost four of five to end the season, but they were against three quality of the SEC’s best and a Georgia team who had a bevy of impressive home wins to their name. And though there are 12 losses on Florida’s ledger, they were in every single one, even the double digit losses to Syracuse, Kentucky, and Xavier.
Besides, the Gators also have quite the point to prove after sneaking into the NCAA Tournament, and I think Billy Donovan will have hammered it into his squad that a win can show people that the Gators do indeed do deserve to be here and have the talent to be regarded highly again after falling off after their back-to-back championships.
BYU is a very, very good team, and if they can control the tempo and turn this one into a high-scoring affair, I’m not certain that Florida can keep up, even though they have five double-digit scorers. But if the Gators bring it, they can not only keep it close throughout, but they can certainly win and advance.
My Pick: Florida +5 ½/+185
South Region
#2 Villanova vs. #15 Robert Morris (12:35 P.M. ET
Robert Morris has played two Big East opponents this season, and though they were on the receiving end of a real beating by Syracuse in their season opener, they were far more competitive against Pittsburgh. They led for more than 10 minutes in the first half, trailed by six at halftime, then trimmed a 23-point deficit to 13 before eventually losing 77-53.
Will they be able to give Villanova a serious challenge? The Wildcats know full well not to underestimate any opponent after last year’s near-disaster in the first round against American University, so I think they’ll come out with the intention of putting the Colonials away early.
My Pick: Villanova -17 ½
#6 Notre Dame vs. #11 Old Dominion (12:35 P.M. ET)
Odds – Spread: Notre Dame -3, Moneyline: Notre Dame -155, Over/Under: 121
Old Dominion is a dangerous, talented team, led by senior center Gerald Lee, and they own a win over Georgetown this season.
However, Notre Dame finished the season on a roll, and I expect them to carry that momentum and confidence into the tournament.
Notre Dame has played terrific defensively recently, and if they can shut Lee down, they’ll be well on their way. ODU don’t have the guards to match up with Ben Hansbrough and Tory Jackson, and if the Irish can use the size that they have to neutralize Lee and Frank Hassell on the inside, this one will be far from the upset that people think it could be.
My Pick: Notre Dame -3/-155
