Sometimes you want to make a quick pitstop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot winning image, here’s a quick thought and lean on a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
Quick Pick — SGP: Creighton +13.5, Tennessee +6.5, OVER 133.5 (+105, MGM)
Over the years, this recreational poker player has bellied up to the table, soaked up the suds, engaged in various “dealer call it” games and relished the fraternal camaraderie.
Inevitably, usually after many hours have passed and several adult beverages have swayed the psyche, someone calls “in between.” It’s a rudimentary game where the dealer flips two cards up and the bettor decides to bet X amount on whether the last card lands in the middle.
With a fat stack of chips laying in front of this willing bettor, that’s exactly the strategy employed in Creighton vs. Tennessee.
Believe it or not, the Bluejays are eight spots higher than the Volunteers in BartTorvik’s rankings since March 1. Greg McDermott’s team is No. 45 in effective field-goal percentage offense and No. 88 in effective field-goal percentage defense. Also, 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner has pounded the paint on both ends. This season, he’s converting over 70% around the tin while tallying one of the nation’s highest block percentages.
With Kalkbrenner surrounded by cylinder splashers Steven Ashworth, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander, the Jays simply execute.
Tennessee's Dalton Knecht has deservedly earned accolades. Raising his draft stock significantly over the past several games, the senior lit up Saint Peter’s and Texas for a combined 43 points over the tourney’s first two rounds.
As a collective, though, the Vols are a lousy No. 316 in effective field-goal percentage offense this month. They’re better defensively — Rick Barnes’ bunch sits at No. 6 in D efficiency over the same span — as they have enticed numerous turnovers, clamped down along the arc and commanded the glass.
Due to the schools’ guarding chops, living in the middle is the way this river chaser is playing it. This feels like a final possession type of game.
Season record: 29-31, +3.45 units