NCAA Tournament – Blue Hens vs Spartans Pick
If you are looking for a good team that is thriving heading into the tournament look no further than Michigan State. The Spartans have been struggling with injuries for months but now fully healthy they look as good as any team in the East bracket. [ad-4468020]
East Region
2014 NCAA Tournament Free Picks
#4 Michigan State Spartans vs #13 Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Thursday March 20
Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA
4:40PM
Moneyline: Michigan State -1500, Delaware +1000
Spread: Michigan State -14
Totals: 149.5
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ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
Michigan State
They won the B10 final against Michigan with relative ease and have a coach in Tom Izzo with a history of pushing his team to the final weekend. Delaware is in trouble.
The key in this first game will be just getting everyone on track. SG Gary Harris has next level talent but he has not had a big game in a while.
It would be awesome to see him get hot and be that top scoring option.
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If he can then C Adrian Payne becomes a more versatile and dangerous threat – and so on and so forth down the line.
They also need to redefine the role of Denzel Valentine. The more minutes he plays the better he plays.
I do not like giving up this much chalk, even in a mismatch like this one. The Spartans should be unchallenged in this one but all it takes are some deep makes to make this a game that is closer than expected.
There is little upset potential here but Delaware could certainly make it interesting because they won’t quit.
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Delaware
The Fightin Blue Hens are always welcome in my Big Dance because you have to just love that team nickname.
This year’s Hens won the regular season and conference Colonial titles and had some very near misses in the non-conference, including nearly knocking off Villanova, the #2 seed in the East.
They will try and force the action and hope for the best. This is a really tough draw for them.
Delaware scores nearly 80 points per game and has a trio of threats on the perimeter. They have three guard that average between 18 and 20ppg but their success in this one is probably going to depend on whether they can rebound the ball on the interior.
PF Carl Baptiste has the bulk to bother Payne but he is going to have to make sure he stays in the game. The key will be if the perimeter guys are knocking down shot to limit the chance to pick up cheap fouls.
If you couldn’t tell above I like the Hens to shoot their way into an ATS win. That doesn’t mean they will ever really threaten MSU but it is rare to find so many top scorers on one team and the Spartans will let a few shots to go in.
Look for this one to finish around the 10 point mark and be pretty good value on Day 1.
Spread prediction: Delaware +14
Totals prediction: Over
Score prediction: Michigan State 85 – Delaware 75
