UConn has covered every NCAA Tournament game under Dan Hurley.
North Carolina has covered every NCAA Tournament game under Hubert Davis.
Sometimes, it’s OK to wear the shirt of the band to their concert.
UConn (-10.5) over San Diego State
What’s changed in the 11-plus months since the Huskies took down the Aztecs, 76-59, in the national title game? The champs have gotten even better.
It may be uncomfortable to lay so many points in the Sweet 16, but it’s impossible to ignore UConn’s dominance in the NCAA Tournament.
In eight straight wins, the Huskies have won their tournament games by an average of 22 points.
In 10 of their past 12 wins this season, the Huskies have won by at least 14 points.
San Diego State — 6-9 in games against NCAA Tournament teams this season despite playing no school seeded higher than fifth — doesn’t have the firepower to stand toe-to-toe with the nation’s top team.
North Carolina (-4.5) over Alabama
The worst defense left standing can’t survive much longer.
The Crimson Tide entered the NCAA Tournament with four losses in six games, but reached the Sweet 16 after shooting 60 percent from the field against a 13-seed and watching a 12-seed make just 2 of 20 3-pointers.
Alabama, which is 2-6 against the spread as an underdog, can’t bank on being so fortunate against the top-seeded Tar Heels, who will easily put up points and control the glass — Alabama ranks 238th in opponent’s offensive rebounding rate — while its sixth-ranked defense keeps the Tide from running free.
Clemson (+7.5) over Arizona
It may be time to treat the Tigers as a true threat, but Brad Brownell’s bunch is best served being listed as the second-largest underdog in the regional semifinals.
They were the only 6-seed in the tournament that was a first-round underdog, before dominating New Mexico.
They were written off against a national championship coach and elite Baylor offense in Round 2, before beating a team with multiple NBA prospects.
Maybe the lack of respect comes from being a football school, from decades passing without making noise in the tournament or sending impactful stars to the league.
Regardless, the Tigers run 10-deep, and showcase strength on both ends and on the inside.
They have been at their best against the nation’s best, winning at North Carolina and Alabama, and dropping a 1-point decision at Duke.
Clemson is 8-1 against the spread as an underdog.
Betting on College Basketball?
Iowa State (-1.5) over Illinois
Illinois’ offense has been the best in the country.
Iowa State’s defense ranks first nationally in efficiency. If they played 10 times, each team might win five.
But in a do-or-die matchup, Iowa State’s defense — which contained Baylor’s sixth-ranked offense in two meetings and swallowed top-seeded Houston in a 28-point Big 12 title game win — is a safer bet to show up, especially given Illinois’ failures in every marquee matchup this season (Marquette, Tennessee, Purdue).
This season: 22-24
2011-23 record: 349-308-12
