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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. What Sweet 16 pick has the attention of The Gaming Juice’s Brad Evans?
No. 6 Ole Miss (24-11) vs. No. 2 Michigan State (29-6)
Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 7:09 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
The pick — Michigan State -3.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Love is powerful. Love is healing. Love can conquer all.
Through his anguish-washed facial expressions and emotional charges toward individual players, Tom Izzo holds much adoration for this season’s Michigan State squad. He is head over heels with this group, and it is why the Spartans are only two steps away from a trip to San Antonio.
Oakland University head coach Greg Kampe, a close friend of Izzo, confirmed the belief on “BetMGM Tonight" on Wednesday. In an interview with Ryan Horvat and yours truly, the mid-major legend described the strong connection between Izzo and his players by saying, “He’s having the time of his life coaching this team.”
The cohesiveness is evident. And the camaraderie has paid massive dividends during the most pressure-packed time of the season.
Magic Johnson U enters the Sweet 16 playing its best ball. Yes, it ranks outside the top 200 in effective field goal percentage offense over its last nine games, but Sparty continues to clamp down defensively and own the glass. Over the last 30 days, MSU slots No. 4 nationally in points per possession allowed (0.877) and No. 7 in defensive rebounding percentage.
Most encouragingly, the Spartans are shooting a quite respectable 35.1% on 3-pointers. Jaden Akins, Tre Holloman and Jase Richardson have truly come alive.
Ole Miss has outperformed expectations. Many thought Danny Hurley had better odds of not dropping postgame f-bombs than the No. 6 seed had at advancing far in the South Region.
Chris Beard is a marvelous tactician, but the advanced data denotes his Rebels’ overachievement.
In its last nine games, Ole Miss ranks No. 161 in effective field goal percentage offense and an abhorrent No. 321 in effective field goal percentage D. Compounding the latter problem, the Rebels have surrendered a disgusting 57.6% on 2s and 36.3% on 3s. Constantly worked on the glass, they've lost many board battles.
Unless Sean Pedulla and his glorious headband bombs away, Ole Miss is sure to be outmatched.
Another keg just arrived at the Sparty Party. Tap in.
Season record: 31-26, +3.02 units
BONUS TIME — Tennessee -4.5 vs. Kentucky (-110, BetMGM)