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: $1,412 Thursday: Won $200

Today’s plays -- Betting $132

Bet 1: $66 on Louisville -9 over Arizona

Comment: The Wildcats aren’t ready for the huge step up in competition the Cardinals will present.

Bet 2: $66 on Michigan State -1 over Kansas

Comment: The Spartans have more scoring options than KU, which relies on just Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.

Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal

Bankroll: $930 Thursday: Lost $15

Today’s plays -- Betting $440

Bet 1: $220 on Arizona-Louisville over 139

Comment: Both teams have averaged more than 70 points in their past five games. That’ll continue here.

Bet 2: $220 on Oklahoma -1 over Syracuse

Comment: The Sooners have the best player in the tournament, Blake Griffin, and he’ll make the difference.

Matt Youmans, Review-Journal

Bankroll: $1,161 Thursday: Won $170

Today’s plays -- Betting $154

Bet 1: $77 on Oklahoma -1 over Syracuse

Comment: If Blake Griffin avoids foul trouble, he’ll make sure one Big East team loses in the Sweet 16.

Bet 2: $77 on Kansas +1 over Michigan State

Comment: Jayhawks coach Bill Self is 7-1 in revenge games against teams that beat him the first time during a season.

Jim Kruger, VegasSportsAuthority.com

Bankroll: $1,324 Thursday: Won $400

Today’s plays -- Betting $550

Bet 1: $341 on Syracuse +1 over Oklahoma

Comment: The Sooners aren’t used to playing against a zone. Syracuse’s guards are better 3-point shooters.

Bet 2: $209 on Kansas-Michigan State over 138

Comment: Michigan State plays more up-tempo out of conference, and Kansas loves to run.

Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet

Bankroll: $1,420 Thursday: Won $250

Today’s plays -- Betting $275

Bet 1: $165 on Syracuse +1 over Oklahoma

Comment: Syracuse is mastering Jim Boeheim’s zone and has enough scoring to counter Blake Griffin.

Bet 2: $110 on Gonzaga +9 over North Carolina

Comment: The Zags rate a puncher’s chance with their varied weapons and size on the perimeter.

Erin Rynning, SportsMemo.com

Bankroll: $1,115 Thursday: Lost $20

Today’s plays — Betting $440

Bet 1: $220 on Syracuse-Oklahoma under 152

Comment: Both teams have impressed with extended zone defenses, which will slow the pace in this one.

Bet 2: $220 on Kansas-Michigan State over 138

Comment: When these teams met in January, the market total was 145, which gives us value in an up-tempo game.