Tough task for SJU at MSG
I haven’t lost hope. I’ve found parlays.
UConn (-9.5) over St. John’s: Even with their eyes on becoming the first back-to-back national champs in 17 years, the Huskies aren’t looking past a conference crown, having suffered three consecutive losses in the Big East Tournament semifinals. While UConn cruised to a 27point quarterfinal win, the Johnnies needed to save their season with an emotional win over Seton Hall. After essentially playing six straight games with their season on the line, it would be unsurprising to see the Johnnies let up — and the champs take advantage.
Purdue (-6.5) over Michigan State: The Boilermakers have won four straight games in the series. Zach Edey is averaging 34 points and 13.7 rebounds in the past three meetings. Unless everyone on the Spartans’ frontline grows six inches overnight, Purdue’s 7-foot-4 star should dominate again.
Northwestern (+3.5) over Wisconsin: The Wildcats dropped the lone meeting with the Badgers this season, 71-63, after making 6 of 21 3-pointers in Madison. The sixth-best perimeter shooting team in the nation will look much better on a neutral court, coming off a 24-point drubbing of Minnesota in which Northwestern — 8-4 against the spread as an underdog — didn’t commit a turnover in the game’s first 38 minutes.
Pittsburgh (+7.5) over North Carolina: It all comes down to whether the Panthers — who attempt more 3-pointers than any team in the ACC — are hitting from deep. They have the bodies to negate North Carolina’s usual edge on the glass. They commit fewer turnovers than all but eight teams in the nation. They won at Duke. They need one more win to have a shot on Selection Sunday. And they have hit over 44 percent of their 3-pointers during their four-game win streak. An outright upset isn’t out of the question.
Tennessee (-10.5) over Mississippi State: Rick Barnes has led the Vols to three of the past five SEC title games and enters this field with a roster capable of killing his underachieving reputation and sending him to his first Final Four in 21 years. The Bulldogs claimed the regular-season meeting. Their inconsistent shooting won’t fare as well in a rematch with Tennessee’s lockdown defense. This season: 1-8 2011-23 record: 349308-12