NDSU vs SDSU West Region Handicapping
Twelve seed North Dakota State advanced with a huge upset over No. 5 Oklahoma on Thursday, and will take on the San Diego State Aztecs in the third round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday. [ad-4468020]
2014 NCAA Tournament Free Picks
West Bracket – Round 2
Date/Time: 6:10 p.m. EST, Saturday, March 22, 2014
Venue: : Spokane Arena, Spokane, Washington
Broadcast: TNT
Spread: -4 San Diego State
Over/Under: 125.5
Odds From [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Insight | CappersPicks Insider Preview
The Bison shocked the Sooners, when Lawrence Alexander buried the game-tying jumper with 11.2 seconds left in regulation, before going on to win 80-75 in overtime.
Alexander finished with a career-high 28 points as the Bison earned the first NCAA tournament win in school history, becoming the first Summit League team to advance to the round of 32 since Valparaiso in 1998.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NCAA HOOPS Season Package Today!
North Dakota State turned it up shooting 52.9 percent from the field and held the Sooners to just 34.7 percent shooting — a few ticks up from its 50.4 percent shooting during the regular season.
The Bison have now not lost a game since February 1, and have held 11 of their last 12 opponents to 69 or less points, while averaging 74.9 points, 36.7 percent which come beyond the arc.
[ad-6571516]
Meanwhile, fourth-seed San Diego State who shot just 39 percent from the field, also needed extra time to dispose of New Mexico State in the second round on Thursday.
The Aztecs, who are attempting to advance to the regional semifinals for the second time in four years, got 23 points from star guard Xavier Thames, including five in overtime, as SDSU posted its 12 straight game allowing 69 or less points.
Thames has put up at least 15 points in seven straight games despite struggling to 10-of-32 from beyond the arc in that span.
As a team, San Diego State 34 percent from beyond the arc and averages 68.5 points per game.
Free Pick: San Diego State
The Aztecs, like the Bison, needed have no problem slowing things down and playing a physical game.
The Bison led the nation in field-goal percentage at .509 and will need every bit of that offense against the Aztecs, who finished second in the nation in scoring defense.
And while SDSU struggled to beat an okay New Mexico State, North Dakota showed they can beat the big teams after toppling the Sooners.
I expect this one to be close with the Bison coming away with another close upset win here.
