Day Two - Maniac's Picks

Man, what a great opening afternoon to the tourney.  Two games to OT, one one-pointer and another buzzer beater!  And I realize it is still a little early to gloat (halftime, Ohio leading by 12), but I can't say I haven't been warning you all about Georgetown (and Villanova...)

Morgan State v. West Virginia -17 -- yawner, gimme Huggy and the 'Eers.

Xavier -1 v. Minnesota -- Full disclosure, I am fully biased.  However, I really think X matches up well, both are big, both have athletic guards.  Xavier has Jordan Crawford and never, ever underperforms in the tourney.  I'm honestly surprised they are a near pick-'em, but Richmond's turd sandwich today does make you pause a little bit on the A-10.

Cornell v Temple -4 -- Sticking with the A-10.  Cornell is a nice ball club.  They remind me of Notre Dame football a few years ago; their signature moment of the season is an "almost" win.  The Red gave Kansas all they could handle in Phog, while Temple got their backside handed to them by the same Jayhawks.  That said, Temple should be at least a #3 seed in this tourney, and I think they come out playing like it.

Siena v. Purdue -4 -- Boiler Up!  Seriously, I'll put my neck out on this one.  Purdue will play better than anyone else thinks.  They;ve had a full week to adapt their offensive attack without Hummel.  They have one of the better bigs in the tourney in JuJuan Johnson, and one of the better scoring off-guards in E'Twaun Moore.  Purdue can't get to Indy, but they can get out of the first weekend.

Clemson -1.5 v. Missouri -- This game will breakneck fast and furious.  In the end, I like the Booker boys and Clemson in a fantastic game.

Oakland +11 v Pitt -- So far, so bad for the BEast.  Now enter traditional under-performer Pitt.  Gimme the Grizzlies of Oakland with the points in yet another Big East BIG scare.

Wofford +10 v. Wisconsin -- Gimme Wofford in a game that will be Waw-ful to watch.  The tempo alone of the Badgers make a 10-point cushion like getting 15 or 16. 

Utah State +3.5 v. TexasA&M -- The fact that they are both nicknamed "Aggies" is so over-reported it is beoming Hannah-Montana-like annoying.  However, it is a really intriguing game between a Big 12 big boy and the rare at-large entrant from the WAC.  The WAC was actually a higher rated conference RPI-wise than Conference USA and the WCC, which surprises most people.  Meaning, Utah State is actually pretty darn good.  I think they show it with their three point precision tomorrow.

Florida State v. Gonzaga +1.5 -- I still like this Gonzaga team and am surprised they fell all the way to an #8.  I thought they were 5/6 before the St. Mary's game, and perhaps the Gaels proved today, that loss wasn't nearly as bad as it seemed.  The Zags are battle-tested and steady at the point with Boldin.  Besides, FSU is another perennial tourney under-achiever.  I love the Zags straight-up but will gladly take the point.

Georgia Tech +1.5 v. Oklahoma State -- A real good game with some premier talent, like seemingly every game in the Kansas bracket.  Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors and James Anderson will provide some real fireworks, but Iman Shumpert is probably the key.  Tech is bigger and better inside, can  their point guard control the ball well enough to let the bigs wreck havoc?  I think they can. 

New Mexico St v Michigan St -12 -- Despite New Mexico's stunning drop all the way to the 12-line (joke - read two days ago's column), I love the Spartans.  Beware the Izz of March.  Isn't it becoming rote at this point to see Izzo and the Spartans outplay their seed?  Kalin Lucas is fully healthy and I like the Spartans to roll.

Arkansas Pine Bluff v. Duke -23 -- Dukies kill 'em.  Not even semi-quality television.

Vermont  v. Syracuse -16 -- Taylor Coppenrath ain't walkin' through that door!  Ah...now I know who my real college hoop fans are.  Only 16?  Seriously?  Gimme the Orange.  They'll miss Onawaku, but not tomorrow.

UC Santa Barbara v Ohio State -16.5 -- Sorry Rome, can't find any justification to take the Gauchos.  This is a nice opportunity for the Ohio State bench to play in the NCAA's, since they usually go only six deep.


Houston +9 v. Maryland -- Everyone's talking about Grevies Vasquez.  After tomorrow you'll know who Aubrey Coleman is.  Our loyal reader's remember him from our Mid-Season All-American team, I have a funny feeling the rest of the country might soon.  His numbers (26&7 as a guard) are jaw-dropping.  I'll take the nine, but also putting the Terps on official Maniac Upset-Watch.

Cal v. Louisville -1 -- This is a coin-flip; heads Edgar Sosa is great, tails he murders the Cards' season.  I'll go heads for tomorrow.





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