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: $2,582 Saturday: Won $400 Today: Betting $198
Today's plays
Bet 1: $132 on Pittsburgh -1 over Xavier
Comment: The Panthers boast a balanced offensive attack, and coach Jamie Dixon will find a way to contain Xavier's Jordan Crawford.
Bet 2: $66 on California +6 over Duke
Comment: The Golden Bears have a legitimate shot to win a game that may turn into nothing more than a 3-point shooting contest.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,480 Saturday: Won $300 Today: Betting $660
Today's plays
Bet 1: $330 on Xavier +1 over Pittsburgh
Comment: The Panthers will have trouble stopping Xavier, and offensively they will not be able to keep up with the Musketeers.
Bet 2: $330 on Texas A&M -1½ over Purdue
Comment: The Aggies, who play tough defense, will expose Purdue.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,510 Saturday: Won $270 Today: Betting $374
Today's plays
Bet 1: $242 on Texas A&M -1½ over Purdue
Comment: This one will be a defensive scrum. The Aggies won't struggle to score as much as the JaJuan Johnson-led Boilermakers.
Bet 2: $132 on Maryland pick over Michigan State
Comment: Greivis Vasquez and the Terrapins have been on a tear since the beginning of February.
John Kelly, EOG.com
Bankroll: $3,225 Saturday: Won $750 Today: Betting $550
Today's plays
Bet 1: $275 on Gonzaga +7 over Syracuse
Comment: The crafty Zags will figure out a way to handle Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense.
Bet 2: $275 on Xavier +1 over Pittsburgh
Comment: Leading scorer Jordan Crawford, averaging 19.7 points per game, should lead the Musketeers to victory.
Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet
Bankroll: $1,952 Saturday: Lost $14 Today: Betting $880
Today's plays
Bet 1: $440 on West Virginia -5½ over Missouri
Comment: The Mountaineers handle the ball well enough not to be disrupted by Missouri's press, and their relentless rebounding will wear down the Tigers.
Bet 2: $440 on Cornell +4½ over Wisconsin
Comment: Unless the refs allow Wisconsin to get away with its customary rough stuff, the elements are in place for the senior-laden Big Red to advance.
Paul Stone, VegasSportsAuthority.com
Bankroll: $2,300 Saturday: Won $450 Today: Betting $770
Today's plays
Bet 1: $550 on Texas A&M -1½ over Purdue
Comment: The Aggies are starting to hit their stride. The Boilermakers have not been the same since the injury to star Robbie Hummel.
Bet 2: $220 on Maryland pick over Michigan State
Comment: Maryland has been a consistent moneymaker all season, and the Spartans have not been at the top of their game lately.
