On Friday March 27th the Sweet 16 of college basketball will conclude with four match-ups scheduled.
 
In the South Region North Carolina, the number one seed in that region, is set to take on Gonzaga, the fourth seed.  It is hard to imagine North Carolina losing this game as they have been winning handily throughout the tournament.  Also, by Friday they should have their star guard Ty Lawson back at full health (he played hurt over the past weekend).
 
North Carolina and Gonzaga are high scoring teams and so the over/under points total for their game has been set at 162.5.  However, that points total still seems very high for a forty minute college basketball game and, if achieved, it would likely be the highest scoring game of the whole tournament.  Of the forty-nine games already played in the tournament, only one produced more total points than 162.5 (Western Kentucky and Gonzaga totalled 164 in the second round) and that game saw one player uncharacteristically hit seven three pointers.  Picking under in the North Carolina/Gonzaga game seems smart.
 
The other game in the South Region is the 'coin flip' between seemingly evenly matched Syracuse and Oklahoma.  The over/under points total here, set at 153.5, appears high as well especially in consideration of the two teams recent history.  Of Syracuse's last five games, only one has produced more total points than 153.5 and that was the most unusual game of the season.  Playing against high scoring Connecticut, Syracuse prevailed in an incredible SIX overtimes: keeping in mind, that if a game goes into one overtime session, that will usually be enough to shatter an 'under' pick with five minutes (let alone thirty) of extra scoring factoring in.  Similarly, of Oklahoma's last five games, only one game has produced more than 153.5 points - their March 7th win against Oklahoma State.
 
In terms of straight winner/loser picks, the 'lock' of the night would appear to be the Louisville Cardinals.  Not only are they the top ranked team in the tournament, but they have also been fortunate enough to have drawn a twelve seed in the Arizona Wildcats.  Underrated as Arizona might be, no twelve seed has ever beaten a number one seed in the history of the NCAA Basketball tournament.  Unfortunately, by picking Louisville you're only getting 2/9 at PlayersOnly.com, but, if history has taught us anything........you should get it.
 
The only other game on Friday night is a sort of nightmare as far as making picks goes.  Michigan State against Kansas is another virtual 'coin flip' with no odds offered at this time.  Perhaps even worse, there is no clear advantage to picking either team in over/under or point spread.
 
Stick to the other three games.

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