NCAA TOURNAMENT FANTASY CHALLENGE
Three Las Vegas 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 of their picks:
Adam Hill, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,384 Sunday: Lost $198 Today: Betting $385
Today's plays
Bet 1: $220 on Kansas State -4½ over Xavier
Comment: The Wildcats have far more scoring options than the Musketeers and will find a way to contain Jordan Crawford.
Bet 2: $165 on Syracuse -6 over Butler
Comment: The Orange are still without Arinze Onuaku but have enough weapons to end the Bulldogs' run.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,450 Sunday: Lost $30 Today: Betting $660
Today's plays
Bet 1: $330 on Washington +4 over West Virginia
Comment: The Huskies will play up tempo, and it might be hard for the Mountaineers to slow them without starting point guard Darryl Bryant.
Bet 2: $330 on Xavier +4½ over Kansas State
Comment: Jordan Crawford gives Xavier a chance to keep pace. Kansas State's poor free-throw shooting might keep the game close late.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,136 Sunday: Lost $374 Today: Betting $220
Today's plays
Bet 1: $165 on Kansas State -4½ over Xavier
Comment: Hot-shooting Jacob Pullen, lightning-quick Denis Clemente and a strong interior game make Kansas State tough to beat.
Bet 2: $55 on Butler +6 over Syracuse
Comment: The Orange will miss Arinze Onuaku. Butler's Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack can counter the scoring of Syracuse star Wes Johnson.
John Kelly, EOG.com
Bankroll: $3,200 Sunday: Lost $25 Today: Betting $825
Today's plays
Bet 1: $550 on Kansas State -4½ over Xavier
Comment: The Wildcats' backcourt of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente is crafty, and coach Frank Martin is a fiery leader.
Bet 2: $275 on Washington-West Virginia under 141
Comment: The Mountaineers will miss point guard Darryl Bryant. The Huskies might struggle shooting in the spacious Carrier Dome.
Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet
Bankroll: $2,752 Sunday: Won $800 Today: Betting $660
Today's plays
Bet 1: $440 on Cornell-Kentucky over 147
Comment: Give the Big Red a puncher's chance, and Kentucky's multi-dimensional attack probably pushes this game into the 80s.
Bet 2: $220 on West Virginia -4 over Washington
Comment: If West Virginia can handle the Huskies' pressure, the Mountaineers' board work will wear down Washington.
Paul Stone, VegasSportsAuthority.com
Bankroll: $1,530 Sunday: Lost $770 Today: Betting $440
Today's plays
Bet 1: $275 on Cornell +8½ over Kentucky
Comment: Senior-dominated Cornell has the right makeup to make life difficult for the talented but youthful Wildcats.
Bet 2: $165 on Kansas State -4½ over Xavier
Comment: Jacob Pullen is coming off a career-high 34-point performance against BYU, and the Wildcats are simply too talented for the Musketeers.
