NCAA TOURNAMENT FANTASY CHALLENGE
Three Review-Journal sports department members and three professional handicappers have been given $1,000 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: $885 Thursday: Lost $115
Today's plays -- Betting $220
Bet 1: $110 on Dayton-West Virginia under 1271/2 Comment: A matchup of two physical, defensive-minded teams that's unlikely to produce many points.
Bet 2: $110 on Southern Cal -21/2 over Boston College Comment: The Trojans are finally healthy and appear to be peaking at the right time.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $990 Thursday: Lost $10
Today's plays -- Betting $220
Bet 1: $110 on Portland State +101/2 vs. Xavier
Comment: Xavier did not finish the season strong, and Portland State's backcourt could pose a problem.
Bet 2: $110 on Ohio State-Siena over 141 Comment: Siena will try to play up-tempo and Ohio State may have no choice but to keep pace with the Spartans.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $973 Thursday: Lost $27
Today's plays -- Betting $165
Bet 1: $88 on Southern Cal -21/2 over Boston College
Comment: USC is more talented with DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis.
Bet 2: $77 on Utah -11/2 over Arizona Comment: If senior center Luke Nevill avoids foul trouble, the Utes will prevail because they're tougher defensively.
Jim Kruger, VegasSportsAuthority.com
Bankroll: $1,023 Thursday: Won $23
Today's plays -- Betting $297
Bet 1: $165 on Arizona State -51/2 over Temple Comment: ASU is a much better defensive team from a much better conference.
Bet 2: $132 on Portland State +101/2 vs Xavier Comment: Portland State beat Gonzaga by 7 and lost to Washington by 1. Xavier has a negative assist-turnover ratio.
Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet
Bankroll: $1,200 Thursday: Won $200
Today's plays -- Betting $220
Bet 1: $110 on Temple +51/2 over Arizona State Comment: The Owls have seen ASU-like matchup zones in the A-10, and they have Dionte Christmas.
Bet 2: $110 on Portland State +101/2 over Xavier Comment: The Vikings can punch above their weight thanks to an explosive backcourt led by Jeremiah Dominguez.
Erin Rynning, SportsMemo.com
Bankroll: $980 Thursday: Lost $20
Today's plays -- Betting $440
Bet 1: $275 on Utah 11/2 over Arizona
Comment: The steady Utes are the superior defensive team. The fading Wildcats have lost five of six.
Bet 2: $165 on Michigan State-Robert Morris over 132 Comment: The Spartans are glad to escape the Big Ten grind as this game goes up-tempo with Robert Morris' small ball.
