March Madness First Four Day 2: Don't Fill Up on Bread

North Carolina-SDSU and Texas-Xavier have the makings to be the best First Four since they added appetizers to the March Madness Menu. It's Fried Calamari and Mozzarella Sticks, Queso and Fried Pickles... I could go on... big app guy over here. However, as every kid heard their parents say at the neighborhood Italian restaurant growing up, "Don't fill up on bread". Shoutout Il Tiramisu in Sherman Oaks (RIP). The Main Course is coming Thursday, so don't blow your betting budget (or your negotiable TV time with your spouse) in the first few days. These are appetizers. Take a bite, enjoy it, get in the groove, but leave room for the Chicken Parm.

Let's get in to Day 2.

[16] American (-2.5) vs [16] Mount Saint Mary's

O/U 129.5

UNC's AD (also the head of the Selection Committee) made a cool $68k bonus for the Tar Heels making the tournament. I'm pretty sure that covers 2 classes at American University. For those who could afford the price tag, they're pretty fired up about 6'9 Forward Matt Rogers - the teams leading scorer by a wide margin, and the Eagles will go as far as he takes them. On the other end, MSM are also big-man dominant, so if you like bumpin' and grindin' with the boys down low, this is the game for you. The total is low, and both teams are not shy to let it rip from deep. A dominant post-game on both ends should lead to quite a few trips to the charity stripe, and if the 3's start falling, we could be in business. Give me Jordan Belfort's American Eagles and the over.

The Pick: Over 129.5 AND American -2.5

[11] Texas vs [11] Xavier (-3.5)

O/U 149.5

From the Wolf of Wall Street to the Fighting McConaugheys of Texas. This game will be our first test to see how strong the SEC really is, as Xavier is no joke. Xavier holds wins over Creighton, Marquette, an UCONN, and took St John's to OT. Meanwhile Texas went 3-5 in Quad 2, 6-12 in the SEC, and got a bid because "It means more"??? As a current Austin resident and a long-time SEC truther, I'd love nothing more than to see the Longhorns get the breaks beat off em and then laugh as the team bus fights SXSW traffic on the way back to campus. However, they are on a heater. 3 wins over tournament teams in March already, and lead by a future lottery pick in Tre Johnson at guard? It's too much to go against. Gotta plug the nose and pick the Horns.

The Pick: Texas +3.5

And we are off... Marathon of picks coming for Thursday's games on Wednesday. Hopefully it's a winning record I'm carrying into Round 1.

March Madness Record: 2-0