Articles by Cappers Picks related to online college basketball betting, and handicapping live ncaab matchups.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were considered a top three or four team by almost everyone heading into the season. Through the year the team had some rough stretches and there were quite a few questions about the team’s toughness and chemistry, but they put it together at the right time.
Louisville Regular Season: The Cardinals started red hot winning their first 12 games of the season including 5 against eventual tournament teams Ohio, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Long Beach State.
Kentucky has had a rather easy road to the Final 4, as all of their wins in the Big Dance have been by double digits. It is no surprise that the Wildcats have the best odds to win the NCAA tournament.
The Kansas Jayhawks were a little lucky to get to the Elite 8, as they did not look good at all in their previous 2 Big Dance games, but they looked stellar in their win over North Carolina, who was the Midwest #1 seed and a pick by many to win the NCAA tourney.
It’s that time of the year again, the Final Four is upon us, and the field is set. Before we delve into that though, let’s take a step back and see how we got to this point.
This year’s Final Four field is set as the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes meet for only the ninth time in their history but for the second time this season in the second NCAA Tournament semifinal on Saturday in New Orleans.
The Massachusetts Minutemen are a high scoring team out of the Atlantic 10. They made a push at the end of the season to qualify for the Big Dance but fell short in the A-10 Tournament, losing to juggernaut St. Bonaventure.
The Washington Huskies will make their second trip of the year to the Big Apple on Tuesday, where they will hope to have better results when they take on the No. 6 seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers for a chance to play either Stanford or UMass in Thursday’s NIT championship game.
On the second day of Elite Eight action we see another matchup between #1 and #2 with the second seeded Kansas Jayhawks being tabbed as favourites.
While Duke was knocked out by Lehigh in Round of 64, many people did have Baylor meeting Kentucky in the Elite Eight in the South Region.
The Ohio State Buckeyes played a very interesting game to make it to the East Regional final.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (30-7) vs #1 Syracuse Orange (34-2)
Saturday March 24
East Region – Boston, MA
7:05PM
Moneyline: Ohio State -150, Syracuse +140
Spread: Ohio State -3
O/U: 136
Ohio State
Against Cincinnati they looked pretty good early, horrible in the middle then finished strong.
Strong enough that they are now the favourites against the region’s #1 seed.
I find this result interesting. Does it mean that Cincinnati is very good because that is not what I saw Thursday night.
Should be a very competitive game.
Against Cincinnati it felt like the Buckeyes were always controlling the action. I didn’t realize it at the time but they scored 14 more points at the foul line.
Aaron Craft was super disruptive on the perimeter both on his man and others. The Bearcats are not blessed with playmakers on the perimeter so I think their defense will be challenged more against Syracuse which can avoid Craft’s presence a little easier.
Jared Sullinger and Deshawn Thomas both played well, when that happens this team gets all the scoring it needs.
Syracuse
It is a #1 vs #2 matchup but can’t remember the last time a #2 seed was the favourite. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Against Wisconsin I thought the Orange played pretty well and lets not forget that Ohio State lost to those same Badgers, on their own homecourt, in a game they needed for the Big 10 regular season championship.
Being a #1 seed doesn’t mean you have to trounce teams.
I have been fading Syracuse a bit this year but I love this team as the underdog.
On Thursday night the Badgers were awesome shooting from deep but the Buckeyes do not present the same challenge.
I am curious to see how the zone affects Jared Sullinger because when you can neutralize him the OSU offense can be pretty ordinary.
I am expecting another good game from Dion Waiters tomorrow. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they have to put Craft on him to slow him down.
Spread Pick: Syracuse +3
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Syracuse 72 – Ohio State 70
This could be the best matchup of the entire Elite 8 lineup this weekend, pitting two teams that pulled off slight upsets in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night.
Ohio is the Cinderella of the Sweet 16 being the 13th seed and while they face the Midwest #1 seed in North Carolina the Tar Heels and their title hopes took a huge blow in their last game when they lost G Kendall Marshall, who leads the nation in assists, to a wrist injury.
Ohio is not the only Cinderella in the Sweet 16, as 11th seed NC State is still alive and both teams are in the Midwest Region.
The Cincinnati Bearcats are on a serious roll right now. No they did not win the Big East Tournament but check this: in their last 11 games they are 9-2 with only 5 points separating them form 11-0; 5 of those wins were against ranked teams with their only losses to tournament teams South Florida and Louisville.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Thursday March 22
East Region – Boston, MA
9:45PM
Moneyline: No money line currently listed
Spread: Ohio State -8
O/U: 129
Cincinnati
I am not saying the Bearcats are my pick to win it all but they certainly deserve to be here and won’t be intimidated by Ohio State.
Cincinnati is coming off a win against Florida State which is no easy task.
Guard Sean Kilpatrick got his game back scoring a team high 18 points as forward Yancy Gates was neutralized in the post by the Seminoles. The game against FSU was far from pretty but it showed the Bearcats have more than enough grit.
I really like the way they locked in at the foul line making 82% of their shots (they were 64% during the regular season).
Ohio State
I suppose I have to eat some humble pie after Ohio State eliminated my Gonzaga Bulldogs. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
In the first half the Zags were all over the Buckeyes but their staying power wasn’t very strong, surprising because I still think they are the deeper team. Ohio State didn’t dominate but they got the job done.
Fellow Ohio school Cincinnati is in the way but this is a favourable matchup despite the steam behind the Bearcats right now.
I am still looking for the evidence that Jared Sullinger is going to be a good player at the next level.
If that is the case he should be able to have success against Bearcats beast of a power forward Yancy Gates. I think it will be a bit of a stalemate which is fine for the Buckeyes who are superior at all the other spots.
They will probably win going away this time. Next us Wisconsin? Maybe.
Spread Pick: Ohio State -8
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Ohio State 72 – Cincinnati 62
Kentucky has lost two games all year long and one of them was to the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers beat the Wildcats 73-72 in Bloomington earlier this year thanks to a Christian Watford three-pointer at the buzzer.
