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NCAA Tournament Fantasy Challenge

Three Review-Journal sports department members and three professional handicappers have been given $2,000 fantasy bankrolls to bet during the NCAA Tournament -- two picks per day of either sides, totals or one of each. Below are their bets for today, with a brief explanation as to their picks:

Adam Hill, Review-Journal

Bankroll: $2,510 Saturday: Lost $15

Today: Betting $330

Bet 1: $220 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky

Comment: The Wildcats put everything they had into beating Ohio State, while the Tar Heels cruised to an easy victory over Marquette.

Bet 2: $110 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas

Comment: The Rams are executing their offense to perfection and will score enough to stay with the eventual national champions.

Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal

Bankroll: $2,145 Saturday: Lost $20

Today: Betting $440

Bet 1: $220 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas Comment: I don't like standing in front of this freight train with a Jayhawks logo, but double digits is too much to give up at this stage of the tourney.

Bet 2: $220 on Kentucky-North Carolina over 146 Comment: The Tar Heels will be off to the races, and the Wildcats will have to join them to keep up in this potentially wild game.

Matt Youmans, Review-Journal

Bankroll: $2,216 Saturday: Won $320

Today: Betting $209

Bet 1: $132 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas

Comment: The Jayhawks won their first three tournament games by 19, 14 and 20 points. But the confident Rams won't roll over.

Bet 2: $77 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky

Comment: It will be tough for the Wildcats to contain Carolina big men Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson.

John Kelly, EOG.com

Bankroll: $260 Saturday: Won $100

Today: Betting $110

Bet 1: $55 on Kentucky -1 over North Carolina

Comment: A slight edge goes to the versatile players the Wildcats put on the floor.

Bet 2: $55 on Kentucky-North Carolina over 146

Comment: Both freshmen point guards, Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall, like to push the pace.

Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet

Bankroll: $1,775 Saturday: Lost $20

Today: Betting $605

Bet 1: $440 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky

Comment: The matchups look good for North Carolina, as the Wildcats had problems with Tar Heels bigs Tyler Zeller and John Henson in December.

Bet 2: $165 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas

Comment: The Jayhawks are potent but not especially quick, and the Rams' balance keeps them close.

Ken Thomson, SportsXRadio.com

Bankroll: $610 Saturday: Lost $550

Today: Betting $330

Bet 1: $220 on Kentucky -1 over North Carolina

Comment: Mike Colbert of Cantor Gaming picked Kentucky to win it all, and he's luckier than me.

Bet 2: $110 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas

Comment: Coach Shaka Smart has his Rams playing like George Mason's Final Four team of 2006.

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