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The NCAA Tournament is the single greatest betting event perennially. With the thrills, chills and heavy favorite spills, the Madness always delivers. Here are quick thoughts and the lean on Bryant vs. Michigan State in the first round of the South Region.
No. 15 Bryant (23-11) vs. No. 2 Michigan State (27-6)
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: TBS
The pick — Bryant +17.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Betting against Tom Izzo is an exercise equivalent to wasting government resources and tax-payer dollars to investigate why the state school didn’t earn an NCAA Tournament at-large invitation.
The finger is clearly pointed at you, West Virginia politicians.
This living, breathing hypocrite has Michigan State in his Final Four, but the number for Friday’s Bryant-MSU game is too high.
The Bulldogs are a fast-paced team (No. 10 in adjusted tempo over its last 10 games) with tremendous size and scoring ability. They are fabulous on the glass and better defensively than perceived (No. 49 in eFG% D in their last 10 contests).
The Spartans are peaking at the right time. Thanks to Jase Richardson’s emergence, they’re consistently scoring inside and — hold onto something — outside.
Over the past month, Michigan State is shooting a previously unfathomable 36.2% from 3-point range. That production along with its plus defense and glass waxing skills are why blazing a trail to San Antonio is buyable.
Still, the number is inflated. Earl Timberlake and his Bryant teammates will compete to the bitter end.
The Green and White winning in the 10-15 point range feels right.
Season record: 28-24, +3.32