Warming Up

B. Anthony is back and needs to start posting several picks a day to find out how hot we are going to be for March. The latest trends show that teams on the bubble needing big wins are getting them. Providence was a great example, and Notre Dame is pulling off a similar run. Today's desperate team is Cincinnati.

Here are the plays for today.

Cinci+ 5 vs W. Virginia. West Virginia is not a great road team. Their last few wins have almost guaranteed them a birth in the big dance, they won't play with desperation tonight. The Bearcats will!

UAB +4.5 vs Memphis. UAB can really make a push to earn and At-Large Bid with a win here. Additionally, as Money would say, Memphis is not really a #1 seed. If they win out, they will be, so that just won't happen. This could be a straight up win for UAB.
I would also lean to the under 139 in the battle. Memphis will bring their outstanding defense, but it is likely their recent offensive outburst will stall on the road when they pucker up the butt cheeks in this close game.

USC +4.5 vs Cal. Another talented team that needs to make a statement to get in the tourney. Pac-10 will get 6 teams in if USC wins 3 of the next four. They will get at least one this weekend before sweeping the Oregon schools next week. DeRozan, Gibson, and Hackett are all pros. 3 pros means a tournament team when they wake up. I think it happens tonight!

Temple -10 vs LaSalle. Temple is a team I have been watching for a while. I expect a great finish out of them and a possible win in the A-10 tournament to prep them for the big Dance. You gotta love a team whose best player is named Christmas! By the way, the A-10 with Xavier, Dayton, Temple and Rhode Island is a very strong top heavy league. You can be sure their will be some complaining when only 2 of these teams get in the Dance. I am calling Temple and Xavier! Sorry Dayton.

Arizona St + 4 vs Washington. This is the game for 1st place in the Pac-10. I am so happy to see that someone will dethrone UCLA. I am going with one of my famous theories on this one. "Best Player on the Court". James Harden will be the difference. This game will be between 1 and 7 points all game, in this situation, take the points. Harden will hit a late 3 and get to the basket and the free-throw line to make the difference.

Harden's line. 22pts, 7 rebounds, 6 assist, 3 steals, and a ton of Moxy!!!

Good Luck,

B. Anthony