March Madness Round 2, Day 1: Halfway There

After two-days feeling like a crackhead watching four games at once and checking brackets/pools for 12 hours straight, we enter more organized chaos for the second round. On one hand we're only halfway through the greatest weekend of the year. On the other hand, we're more than halfway through the total amount of games for the entire tournament. Just when your significant other or kids were convinced you had gone insane, being able to focus on one game at a time for the weekend should remind them that your attention span is indeed longer than 2.5 seconds.

We've got 5 picks still open, so I'll update the overall record after the games end, but yesterday was not as profitable as Thursday, but we should (knock on wood) still be in the green for the weekend. Unlike Shohei Ohtani.

Saturday morning update: we closed strong and finished 11-6!!

LADIES FIRST: USC (1) vs Texas A&M-CC (16)

Juju Watkins is the best player in women's college basketball. Oh you think it's Caitlin Clark? Why? Because you're a sheep who does what the anti-west-coast sports media tells you. Be better. Fight On and it's Juju time. Bonus Pick: USC [W] -32.5.

Dayton (7) vs Arizona (2)

Arizona -9.5, O/U 149.5

Dayton have arguably the most impressive win so far in the first round. They were essentially boarding their flight home when they decided to say "that lead is not real" to Nevada and pull a truly miraculous comeback (Shoutout Tiffany). I don't think lightening strikes twice. Oumar Ballo should dominate the rebound battle down low, and if we get the good version of Arizona, the Flyers are actually flying home this time.

The Pick: Arizona -9.5

Gonzaga (5) vs Kansas (4)

Gonzaga -4.5, O/U 151.5

This line makes no sense to me. I don't see how Gonzaga is getting 4.5, which makes me think this is Vegas begging me to take Kansas. However, my good buddy and Gonzaga alum just became a Dad and he timed his paternity leave to coincide with March Madness. That big-brain move has to be rewarded. Additionally, both teams are having "down" years by their standards but this still feels way-too-early for this big of a matchup. I can see the line moving back down to even 2.5 by tip-off, but I'll take the under too as both teams tend to play in lower-scoring games when they matchup against solid competition.

The Pick: Gonzaga -4.5 and Under -151.5

Michigan State (9) vs North Carolina (1)

UNC -3.5, O/U 140.5

The one consistency of my picks across sports is that I don't learn my lesson. I specifically noted that betting against Izzo in March is a bad idea, did it anyway, and got burned. Screw it, let's do it again. If I keep betting against him, eventually I'll have the last laugh over that grumpy Italian in East Lansing.

The Pick: UNC -3.5

Washington State (7) vs Iowa State (2)

ISU -6.5, O/U 128.5

Unlike the Mountain West or the SEC, the PAC 12 is over-performing in March... AGAIN. I swear this conference had it's best year across the board in it's final year. It's a shame there's a strong east-coast bias in our Nation's agenda and the deep-state's effort's to silence west-coast sports finally worked. Yes, we will play your stupid 9am PST kick-offs so you can get your beauty sleep in your Manhattan penthouse you greedy bastards. But we have not gone, and will not go, gentle into that good night.

The Pick: Wazzu +7.5

Hell yes, Alabama/Charleston just hit the over, LFG. By far my favorite bet of the tournament.

Oakland (14) vs NC State (11)

NC State -6.5, O/U 146.5

Gohlke cannot do it again, can he? Oakland needed all of his 10 3's to sink Kentucky, and I'm not sure that performance can be repeated. Additionally, NC State despite not having the talent of the Wildcats, do have something Oakland did not see on Thursday: A coach who scouts, makes mid-game adjustments, and runs more than one offensive play. I don't see Oakland getting their week-long press tour that they honestly deserve regardless. I love Gohlke, but to truly love him, I must let him go and pick against him. I would NOT be upset about losing this pick.

The Pick: NC State -6.5

Texas (7) vs Tennessee (2)

Tennessee -6.5, O/U 146.5

Ew. These two shades of orange on the same court is violation of the Geneva convention. Tennessee has a history of underachieving in March and Texas has consistently been Texas (all hype, no game) against ranked opponents this year. They both should lose. They both want to lose. Can we kick them both out and make Oregon/Creighton a Sweet-16 game? I'd vote for that. Unfortunately we can't. Both teams looked good in their opener, but the best player on the court is Knecht and I enjoy Longhorn tears too much.

The Pick: Tennessee -6.5

Duquesne (11) vs Illinois (3)

Illinois -10.5, O/U 148.5

I see a very similar game for Illinois here as their opener. But Dew-cane scare me. Duquez-knee were heavily talked about as the worst 11 seed in the tournament and pulled the second most shocking upset yet. I think Doo-quinceanera stink, but they proved everyone wrong once and they could again against Illinois, a team that does not play great defense and have a been on both ends of a myriad of crazy comebacks this year. I'm hoping for buckets.

The Pick: Over 148.5

Oregon (11) vs Creighton (3)

Creighton -4.5, O/U 146.5

Oregon is getting A LOT of respect with this line at 4.5. I was thinking it'd be almost double that and was looking forward to backing Dana Altman, a.k.a Basketball-Herb-Brooks, and the Ducks. This seems like another attempt at Vegas throwing out a sucker line here asking me to take Creighton. I am no sucker, and this is the grand finale of the PAC. We get to back-the-PAC, dare I say, "again".

The Pick: Oregon +4.5

Running March Madness record: 26-15