Final Four favorites, sleepers and who to stay away from on this week's FPBcast
Sixteen spots in the round of 32 are in the offing Friday as the NCAA Tournament presses ahead at sites from coast to coast.
FrontPageBets has identified four games we find most interesting and worth following as you eagerly evaluate your bracket. And we've got an upset special for you.
Our editors will share their knowledge daily all the way to the national championship game.
Find our picks here and get smarter about tournament teams through our partners around the Lee Enterprises sports network.
No. 15 Jacksonville State vs. No. 2 Auburn
Tipoff: 12:40 p.m.
TV: truTV
First-round location/Region: Greenville, S.C./Midwest
Spread: Auburn -15.5 (-110); Jacksonville State +15.5 (-110)
Money Line: Auburn -2000; Jacksonville State +1000
Over/Under: 139.5 (-110)
Road to NCAA Tournament: Auburn (27-5) won the SEC regular-season championship, but was bounced from the conference tournament in the quarterfinals by red-hot Texas A&M. Jacksonville State (21-10) got into the NCAAs by winning the ASUN Conference regular season and taking the place of postseason-ineligible Bellarmine. Both teams are from the state of Alabama, but haven’t played each other since 2013, an Auburn victory. The Tigers are led by freshman sensation Jabari Smith, who was the SEC Freshman of the Year and named an AP All-American, along with center Walker Kessler. Smith, a potential top NBA Draft pick, leads AU in scoring with 17.1 points per game, and he has averaged 23.7 points per game in Auburn’s last seven outings, according to Opelika-Auburn News sports editor Justin Lee. The Gamecocks are one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country, shooting a nation’s fifth-best 38.8%. First-team ASUN guard Darian Adams leads Jax State with 15.6 points per game. But it won’t be enough firepower to knock off Auburn.
The pick: Auburn, 85-70.
-- Mike Szvetitz
No. 11 Virginia Tech vs. No. 8 Texas
Tipoff: 4:30 p.m.
TV: TBS
First-round location/Region: Milwaukee, Wis./East
Spread: Texas -1 (-110); Virginia Tech (+1)
Money Line: Texas -115; Virginia Tech -105
Over/Under: 123.5 (-110)
Road to the NCAA Tournament: Now is not the time to be playing the Hokies (23-12), who won the ACC tournament championship to punch their ticket to the Big Dance. Virginia Tech beat Notre Dame and blue bloods North Carolina and Duke, respectively, by an average of 11.6 points, to win the ACC title. Texas (21-11) received an at-large bid for entry after finishing fourth in the Big 12. The Hokies can shoot the 3-ball, sitting at third in the nation in 3-point percentage (39.2), and are led by Hunter Cattoor’s near 42% from behind the arc. Keve Aluma leads VT with 15.8 points per game from the inside. Then there's the veteran leadership of Storm Murphy, who has started every game this season. (Read more about Murphy in this well-done feature by Roanoke Times' reporter Mark Berman.) Texas led the Big 12 and is sixth in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 59.6 points per game. Forward Timmy Allen leads the Longhorns with 12.3 points per game. Only two other players on the team are in double figures, averaging less than 11 points an outing. Tech is just too hot right now. Hokies win going away.Â
The pick: Virginia Tech, 79-71.
-- Mike Szvetitz
No. 10Â Davidson vs. No. 7 Michigan State
Tipoff: 9:40 p.m.
TV: CBS
First-round location/region: Greenville, S.C./West
Spread: Michigan State -1 (-110); Davidson +1 (-110)
Money Line: Michigan State (-115); Davidson (-105)
Over/Under: 142 (-110)
Road to the NCAA Tournament: Michigan State (22-12) had an uneven season that included a nine-game winning streak and its share of stumbles. The Spartans finished seventh in the Big Ten and struggled to find on-court leadership. Senior forward Gabe Brown (11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds) needs to assert himself in his last dance. Junior transfer point guard Tyson Walker is questionable with an injured ankle, meaning sophomore A.J. Hoggard (6.8 points, 4.9 assists) may be forced into major minutes. Atlantic 10 regular-season champ Davidson (27-6) is led by ex-MSU captain and senior point guard Foster Loyer, who transferred after being plagued by injuries and inconsistency in East Lansing. Loyer averages 16.3 points, 3.3 assists and can shoot the 3-ball with aplomb (44.5%). The Wildcats have four scorers averaging in double figures, including junior guard Hyunjung Lee (16 points, 6 rebounds), senior forward Luka Brajkovic (13.2 points, 7.2 boards) and junior guard Michael Jones (11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds). Two of the best coaches in the nation, MSU's Tom Izzo and Davidson's Bob McKillop, will try to dictate tempo. The Spartans are 18-16 against the spread, The Wildcats are 20-11.
The pick: Michigan State, 74-68
-- Gerry Ahern
Tipoff: 9:50 p.m.
TV: TBS
First-round location/region: Milwaukee/Midwest
Spread: Wisconsin -8 (-110); Colgate +8 (-110)
Money Line: Wisconsin -350; Colgate +270
Over/Under: 139.5 (-110)
Road to the NCAA Tournament: It's been a surprising year for Wisconsin (24-7). The Big Ten regular-season champions were picked 10th in the preseason. They exceeded those expectations largely behind behind sophomore guard Johnny Davis. Davis, a likely top-10 NBA pick, is on the verge of being voted a consensus All-American, writes Abby Schnable of the Wisconsin State Journal. Davis is augmented by senior guard Brad Davison (14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds). The Badgers, who lost their last two games to Nebraska and Michigan State, will be playing a de facto home game at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. They meet Colgate (23-11) the Patriot League regular season and tournament champions. The Raiders are winless in four previous NCAA Tournament appearances. They are led by senior guard Nelly Cummings (14.5 points, 3.4 assists) and feature a balanced offensive attack, with five players averaging in double figures. Colgate has won 15 games in a row. Their best victory came over Syracuse. The Badgers are 17-14 against the spread. The Raiders are 17-15-1.  Â
The pick: Wisconsin, 78-62
-- Gerry Ahern
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 22-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards.
Gerry Ahern is senior content editor for FrontPageBets. A 35-year veteran sports editor and digital media executive, he has led coverage of the biggest events in sports, from Super Bowls, to Final Fours, to Olympics, to the Masters.
