NCAAB Brackets Are Set

Good morning,

Let’s dive in…

Developing Stories 📰

There is no overwhelming favorite entering the 2023 men’s NCAA tournament. Instead, the field is full of possibilities for the 68 teams who got chosen on Selection Sunday. While Houston, Kansas, and Alabama will likely be the most popular picks in your office pool, this does feel like the type of year that a sleeper could potentially go all the way. There are a few things we know about trying to pick a winner based on history. A No. 1 seed has won it the last five years and 12 of the last 15. The lowest seed to ever win it all was a No. 8 seed Villanova back in 1985. Of course, last season’s championship game was an instant classic between No. 1 seed Kansas and No. 8 seed North Carolina. We know anything can happen in March. There are so many teams that feel like they could win it all this year with the right draw.

South Region

Alabama is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, and it feels like the Crimson Tide have a favorite path to the Final Four. Alabama will defeat the No. 16 seed without a problem, and we’ll take them over No. 8 seed Maryland in the second round. No. 12 seed Charleston could upset No. 5 San Diego State in the first round, and Virginia beating Furman. Charleston could make it into the Sweet 16 as a No. 12 seed after they upset Virginia, who has been struggling on offense. Charleston’s run ends against Bama in the regional semifinal.

East Region

Purdue ended up getting a No. 1 seed after all. The Boilermakers won the Big 10 tournament to earn the top seed in the East region, but their path won’t be easy with a tough second round matchup looming. The 8-9 matchup features Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic, two teams who could give the Boilermakers trouble in the round of 32. Memphis should beat FAU, and the Tigers could give the Boilermakers some trouble in the Sweet 16.

Midwest

Houston has been consistently the best team in college basketball all year. Theirs is one problem with star guard Marcus Sasser going down with the groin injury, and no one knows his status for the NCAA tournament. Still, we’ll take Houston to the Sweet 16 with a win over Iowa.

West

The West feels like the most difficult region to pick. It starts with the defending champion Kansas Jayhawks, who will have a tough second round matchup regardless of who wins between Illinois and Arkansas. How good is this UCLA team without injured wing Jaylen Clark. Clark might be the best defender in the nation, and his exit from the lineup is a blow for the Bruins.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sports History: 1954 Braves’ Bobby Thomson breaks his ankle, is replaced by Hank Aaron.

LA Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is requesting permission to speak with other teams about a potential trade after contract extension failed to show progress.

Georgia Tech finalizing Damon Stoudamire to a 5-year deal to become the teams head basketball coach.

Jason Kelce says he’s returning for 13th season to be the Eagles center.

The NE Patriots and cornerback Jonathan Jones agree on a two-year deal for him to return to the team.

Ole Miss hires former Texas Longhorns’ Chris Beard as men’s basketball coach.

Falcons are giving Chris Lindstrom a five-year extension reportedly worth $105 million, this makes him the highest paid guard in the NFL.

The Boston Bruins set NHL history as fastest team to win 50 games.

Lakers fail to reach .500 after a 112-108 loss to the Knicks, Davis blames himself for the halt in teams production.

McNeese State hires Ex-LSU head coach Will Wade.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏀 Jazz at Heat

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games when playing Miami

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 5 games

• Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Utah

🏀 Grizzlies at Mavericks

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games on the road

• Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Memphis

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Memphis

🏀 Timberwolves at Hawks

• Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

• Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota

• Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota

🏀 Celtics at Rockets

• Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston

• Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Houston

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 8 games when playing Boston

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games

🏀 Suns at Warriors

• Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing Golden State

• Golden State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

🏀 Bucks at Kings

• Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Sacramento

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing Sacramento

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Sacramento's last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

🏒 Avalanche at Canadiens

• New York is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games

• New York is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Lakers's last 7 games at home

• LA Lakers is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home

🏒 Sabers at Maple Leafs

• Buffalo is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• Buffalo is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

• Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

• Toronto is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Buffalo

🏒 Stars at Kraken

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games

• Dallas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games at home

• Seattle is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏀 NBA

26% of bets and 43% of money is on UNDER 224.5 MEM at DAL

33% of bets and 51% of money is on MIA -7.5

63% of bets and 79% of money is on OVER 226 UTA at MIA

49% of bets and 76% of money is on GSW -4.5

48% of bets and 85% of money is on UNDER 236 PHO at GSW

31% of bets and 51% of money is on OVER 244.5 MIL at SAC

🏒 NHL

48% of bets and 66% of bets and OVER 7 BUF at TOR

⚾️ MLB Spring Training

47% of bets and 79% of money is on MIL ML

40% of bets and 60% of money is on OVER 11 CLE at LAD

61% of bets and 87% of money is on LAD -1.5

48% of bets and 79% of money is on OVER 11 ARI at TEX

43% of bets and 65% of money is on OVER 11 OAK at COL

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

ATL (SG) Bogdan Bogdanovic | Questionable - Back

BKN (PG) Ben Simmons | Questionable - Back/Knee

DAL (PG) Luka Doncic | Out - Thigh

DAL (PG) Kyrie Irving | Questionable - Foot

DET (PG) Jaden Ivey | Out - Health

DET (SF) Bojan Bogdanovic | Out - Achilles

DET (SG) Alec Burks | Out - Foot

DET (PF) Marvin Bagley III | Out - Ankle (1-2 weeks)

GSW (PF) Jonathon Kuminga | Questionable - Ankle

GSW (PF) Draymond Green | Probable - Ankle

GSW (F) Andre Iguodala | Probable - Hip

HOU (C) Alperen Sengun | Questionable

IND (SG) Bennedict Mathurin | Questionable - Ankle

IND (SG) Buddy Hield | Questionable 

IND (PG) T.J. McConnell | Out - Back

IND (C) Myles Turner | Out - Back

IND (PG) Tyrese Haliburton | Out 

MEM (F) Jake LaRavia | Questionable - Back

MIA (F) Duncan Robinson | Out - Health

MIA (C) Cody Zeller | Out - Broken Nose

MIA (PG) Kyle Lowry | Questionable - Knee

MIA (SF) Caleb Martin | Questionable - Knee

MIL (PF) Giannis Antetokounmpo | Questionable - Hand

MIL (SG) Wesley Matthews | Probable - Calf

MIN (SG) Austin Rivers | Questionable - Back

MIN (C) Rudy Gobert | Questionable - Ankle

MIN (SG) Jaylen Nowell | Out - Knee

UTA (PG) Jordan Clarkson | Questionable - Finger

Picks 🔒

Arkansas ML -145 | Razorbacks are 9-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games against a Big Ten opponent. The Fighting Illini are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games in March. The Fighting Illini struggle to come back from early deficits because they cannot shoot the three-ball efficiently (30.9%) or drain enough free throws (68.0%). That will be the case again here.

Auburn -1 | Auburn has relied on a solid defense that ranks 29th adjusted defensive efficiency. They minimize opponent three-point and two-point field goal percentage by creating tough shooting situations. Auburn should be enough to slow down Iowa’s potent offense. When the Hawkeyes score 70 or less, they are only 1-7 on the season and Auburn’s defense allows just 67.1 points per game.