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00:00:00Welcome to our number two live right here on this Thursday on the early line on SportsGrid, but not just any ordinary Thursday.
00:00:08It is round of 64 Thursday at the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament.
00:00:14He is Donny Redside. I am Ben Stevens.
00:00:16It is one of the best days on the calendar each and every year and it is here starting at 12 15 p.m.
00:00:24Our first of 16 games over about 13 straight hours of college basketball as the madness fully begins on this Thursday and Donny our charge here in our two and throughout the remaining two hours on this show is to preview all 16 games that we have on this Thursday.
00:00:45It is our duty. It is our task and we will come through for the people.
00:00:49Absolutely. We will and it does get started soon.
00:00:52Seems like we've been talking about this March Madness tournament for weeks and weeks and weeks on end only knowing the brackets obviously on Sunday night.
00:00:58And here we are already on a Thursday ready to go got some great appetizers in Dayton got a lot of points here.
00:01:04How's that going to translate over now to the bigger arenas where now you have the shift?
00:01:09Maybe the fans aren't all there to start or if you are the higher seed everybody else in the building the 75% of the other fans cheering against you.
00:01:16You have those dichotomous which I'd love to see in March Madness, but understand like if I just go to the time frames 1215 Louisville Creighton great game.
00:01:23Maybe on upset alert were high point at 1240 and the way it goes.
00:01:26I'm just hoping like I see the cutoffs right because you have sort of that dinner break which comes from the four o'clock games.
00:01:32They don't start again till 650. It's like can I at least be undefeated and enjoy my time in those first couple games?
00:01:39But when you look Ben like VCU BYU tough when there you take a look also Creighton and Louisville like coin flips right out of the gate.
00:01:46Can I win both of those coin flips and keep the vibes going into the night slate tonight?
00:01:51Keep the bracket from being busted.
00:01:53It is for about six seven hours when all of your best and all of those wagers to start Donnie.
00:01:58That is the hope that is the goal.
00:02:00That's what we will try to help you with here on TEL.
00:02:04And of course, it does bear repeating noon Eastern Time today myself and the coach.
00:02:08JY James Young live in studio together for sports grids bracket Central coverage.
00:02:14We will sweat out those opening round of 64 bets with you.
00:02:18We will follow the action live.
00:02:20We will break down all of the chaos in the madness together.
00:02:24It is the most beautiful time of the year.
00:02:27All right, DRS.
00:02:28Let's keep diving through what we have here in the opening round of 64.
00:02:31Just one final point on the 512 matchup in the Midwest region.
00:02:35McNeese the 12th see the champions of the Southland for a second consecutive year.
00:02:40Led by Will Wade against a really good team on the five line in Clemson.
00:02:44I think Brad Brown L who got his contract extension yesterday for the Tigers is severely underrated.
00:02:50Clemson was an elite eight team last year.
00:02:52Clemson was the only team to beat Duke in the ACC.
00:02:55They went 18 and 2 in regular season action.
00:02:58In DRS, they covered in 14 of those 18 wins.
00:03:01They were impressive against the teams.
00:03:03They were expected to beat and made sure to do so in dominant fashion.
00:03:08You always like to talk about like versus like competition
00:03:11and it's difficult to find for a Cowboys team in McNeese that is expected to keep this game very close against Clemson.
00:03:18A lot of people have pulling off the outright upset.
00:03:21McNeese has been an underdog twice this year against SEC foes.
00:03:26Alabama catching 17 and a half.
00:03:28Mississippi State catching nine and a half.
00:03:31Both of those games were a cover for the pokes.
00:03:34Both of those games decided by eight points or fewer.
00:03:38And one of the keys Donnie, I think if McNeese keeps this game close is that defensive end.
00:03:43It's where the Cowboys are very, very good.
00:03:46Both the games against Alabama and Mississippi State stayed well under.
00:03:51In fact, the Crimson Tide only scored 72 against Will Wade's team.
00:03:55Their second lowest scoring output of the entirety of this year.
00:03:58Yeah, and they are one of those teams in the spotlight, which sometimes is tough.
00:04:02Like you want to be the team that's like, okay, last year they were in the spotlight and lost.
00:04:05People are backing them again.
00:04:06Let's see if they can repair it.
00:04:07But I'd say what's interesting too is both coaches with interesting situations.
00:04:11Like one is leaving for another job and a huge pay bump.
00:04:14And one apparently probably just got a pay bump at this point.
00:04:17And it's from the Clemson side.
00:04:19Like wouldn't you like the negotiations or if you're even from the Clemson coaching side saying,
00:04:24oh, we'll wait a couple games here.
00:04:25I go on a run, man.
00:04:26I might be able to up that contract a little bit more.
00:04:28Or, hey, man, I got a tough round one matchup.
00:04:30If I lose, who cares?
00:04:31I got my new contract at this point.
00:04:32So interesting dichotomy on both sides with both of these coaches, you know,
00:04:35increasing already before this game actually takes place.
00:04:38But for me, I'm just going to trust that Clemson's defensive footprint,
00:04:41playing at a better conference and the higher seeded team will prevail.
00:04:45Now, again, winning the game and covering the seven and a half,
00:04:47as you just explained, completely different situations.
00:04:50Clemson wins by one.
00:04:51That might be their Picasso move forward.
00:04:52Who cares?
00:04:53We're surviving and advancing, which is the name of the game.
00:04:55So that always comes into it.
00:04:57Blowout ability in this game, if I can use that word.
00:04:59I don't think we see this like a 15 point win by Clemson, to be honest.
00:05:03I think we're going to look right around that number.
00:05:05And I still would be surprised, though, if McNeese put up the outright upset,
00:05:09but not surprising if they stay within eight points.
00:05:12Last year, DRS, everybody thought McNeese would keep it close against Gonzaga.
00:05:15They lost that game by 21.
00:05:17The Pokes hoping to avoid that fate this time around.
00:05:20Another very likely 12 over five upset as the public is seeing it.
00:05:25You see San Diego, a 30 win team out of the big West,
00:05:29taking on the champions, the big 10 tourney in Michigan,
00:05:32on that five line in the South region,
00:05:34just a two and a half point spread in favor of a five seed against a 12.
00:05:41With a total of 142 and a half.
00:05:43DRS, are you buying in to what the public thought is
00:05:46that Michigan is very much on upset alert tonight in Denver?
00:05:50You're supposed to.
00:05:52Like, look at the game and look at the spread itself.
00:05:54UC San Diego, 90% of the people filling out their brackets
00:05:57never heard of this as an execute.
00:05:59Oh, San Diego State. No, no.
00:06:00It's UC San Diego. Oh, different team here.
00:06:02Michigan, really good team out of the big 10
00:06:04who won the big 10 conference tournament.
00:06:06And it's only a two and a half point line.
00:06:08If you're just line reading,
00:06:09that's a stone cold UC San Diego line.
00:06:11When you look at some of the metrics of what San Diego does,
00:06:13they do phenomenal stuff like not turning the basketball over,
00:06:16shooting a ton of three point shots,
00:06:18making a ton of three point shots.
00:06:20You take a look at Michigan on offense.
00:06:22They turn the basketball over.
00:06:23UC San Diego may be one of the best,
00:06:25if not the best teams at turning you over,
00:06:27but we're not playing again,
00:06:28like versus like competition as it enters in.
00:06:31The handicapper in me looks at this game and says,
00:06:34I got to take UC San Diego with the upset.
00:06:36That line is ridiculous.
00:06:37They have a good basketball team.
00:06:39And if the metrics hold up, it's not Michigan at home.
00:06:41They're actually playing in elevation at Denver,
00:06:43which is a little bit different,
00:06:44but also the bracket side of me goes, come on now.
00:06:48Michigan just to win this game over UC San Diego.
00:06:51And if they do, what's the harm in that?
00:06:53That's the way I went.
00:06:54I took Michigan just because of the seed line here.
00:06:57Again, I'm a little bit out of the water or in deeper waters
00:07:00than what I like because you're supposed to take UC San Diego,
00:07:02but the bracket guy in me goes, I'm not doing that.
00:07:05Michigan's just a better team.
00:07:06I'll take them to win.
00:07:07The sports betting guy in me sees a public dog
00:07:10that everybody is in love with.
00:07:12And I'm like, I can't, right?
00:07:13There's just too much onus on Eric Olin.
00:07:16And again, Donnie, I talked about this a month and a half ago.
00:07:19If you told me the Tritons of UC San Diego
00:07:21were taking on anybody in the big dance,
00:07:23I'd say, nope, book it.
00:07:24UC San Diego opening round upset might have them in my sweet 16.
00:07:28And in some brackets I do just because of how good they are.
00:07:33Iwaniwa Tate Jones, the big West player of the year.
00:07:35The Kiwi is sensational.
00:07:37We have talked a lot about UC San Diego
00:07:39and how great they are taking away the basketball.
00:07:42And that's been the thing to plague the Wolverines,
00:07:45their Achilles heel through most of this season.
00:07:48Did not do that in Indianapolis winning outright as a dog in three games
00:07:52to win that big 10 tournament title.
00:07:54But there's no better cover team DRS than UC San Diego this year.
00:07:5825 and seven against the spread,
00:08:00six games as a dog outright in five.
00:08:03I am very glad that we have this game right away on a Thursday.
00:08:07I think it is going to be fantastic.
00:08:10You'll hear a lot about Iwaniwa Tate Jones.
00:08:12I think Hayden Gray defensively, the difference maker for UCSD.
00:08:16And if they're going to win this game offensively,
00:08:19keep an eye on Tyler McGuy.
00:08:21He is a fantastic three point shooter for UC San Diego
00:08:25and they love to hoist from deep.
00:08:28We will continue to break things down around the round of 64
00:08:32on the other side of the break.
00:08:34And Donnie, we have talked about Providence a few times,
00:08:37the host site, the pod site for some great games on this Thursday.
00:08:41That includes Kansas and Arkansas.
00:08:43As good as you will see in the first round.
00:08:45Next.
00:08:46Round of 64 Thursday at the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament.
00:08:50We will preview all 16 games on this opening full day of the big dance.
00:08:55So let's keep it rolling.
00:08:57Providence, Rhode Island.
00:08:58What a sight for some of the great coaches in this sport currently
00:09:02and maybe even in the history of college basketball as well,
00:09:07including a 7-10 matchup in the West region.
00:09:10The preseason number one team in the nation
00:09:13who did not match that preseason expectation.
00:09:16Kansas on the seven line ending, by the way,
00:09:19a 24 year streak of being at least a four seed or better.
00:09:24They are now a number seven seed taking on a 10 seed in Arkansas.
00:09:30Kansas' head coach, Bill Self, a multiple time national champion.
00:09:35Arkansas' head coach, John Calipari, one of the greats to ever do it.
00:09:40A four and a half point spread in favor of the Jayhawks.
00:09:43Total at 145 and a hook.
00:09:46Donnie, how do you break down the matchup between the Hogs and the Hawks?
00:09:50Yeah, lines have been breaking all week.
00:09:52Open up at five and a half.
00:09:53Five and a half and four and a half here at FanDuel all week long.
00:09:56Five and a half to some other outlets and even fives there.
00:09:58So we're sort of finding that four and a half to five and a half shop around,
00:10:01get the best price depending on which side you like, which me again,
00:10:03you know I like to take the points.
00:10:05I'm going to take Arkansas getting the four and a half to five
00:10:07and a half points here currently right now.
00:10:08Four and a half at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
00:10:10The reason is are we just waiting for Kansas to come around because
00:10:14the pedigree is there and the expectations at the beginning of the season.
00:10:17But we watched the whole season and it's clear they're not one of the best teams
00:10:20in the country.
00:10:21Otherwise, they'd have a higher seed and wouldn't be playing on this line
00:10:24as we have it.
00:10:25But also, same way I talked about Louisville.
00:10:27Are there some other things than X's and O's coming into this?
00:10:30Boogie Flam probably coming into the season the best player on Arkansas.
00:10:33Missed a large portion of the season.
00:10:35Coming back.
00:10:36Now we're anticipating Boogie Flam to come in and drop 18 points,
00:10:3925 points in this game.
00:10:40Not necessarily would be great, but just having your star player back
00:10:44in the lineup can give a boost to the rest of the lineup.
00:10:46And really, the effectiveness of the handicap for me is I think Arkansas
00:10:50is one of those teams starting the season.
00:10:53Hey, I don't like Kyla Perry saying,
00:10:55I don't even have a single player on my roster right now.
00:10:57I don't know if we're getting a field of basketball team too.
00:10:59Opening the season with expectations that didn't look all that great
00:11:02was either right higher and playing better basketball during the back stretch
00:11:05of the season.
00:11:06And getting the points on a neutral court with Arkansas for me seems like
00:11:09the best fit for me against Kansas.
00:11:11Can Kansas win?
00:11:12Sure.
00:11:13They're favored to do so.
00:11:15I'm taking Arkansas to keep this game close, if not win it outright.
00:11:18Donnie, you're waiting on a Kansas team to show up.
00:11:20The talent is there.
00:11:21The pieces are there.
00:11:22Hunter Dickinson.
00:11:23You have guys like Zeke Mayo that transferred in.
00:11:26You've got so many things that you love about this KU team,
00:11:29and yet they have faltered every step of the way all year long.
00:11:35K.J. Adams is sensational.
00:11:37DeJuan Harris has been a point guard in Lawrence forever.
00:11:40It just hasn't melded together the way Bill self-anticipated.
00:11:44Kansas has lost eight or more Big 12 games twice since 1988-89.
00:11:51That has happened in each of the last two years,
00:11:54where each of the last two years KU was booked as the preseason number one team.
00:11:59Now they have made it to the big dance, but last year ousted in the round of 32.
00:12:03This year, even if they win this one, I don't think there's much more than that
00:12:08as the winner will get another glorified head coach,
00:12:11more than likely in Rick Pitino.
00:12:12But keep an eye on those Omaha Mavericks late night tonight
00:12:15as they take on St. John's.
00:12:18Donnie, when you look at Arkansas, it was really the return to Rupp
00:12:21that turned around this team season for Coach Cal and the Razorbacks.
00:12:26They were a 12-8 basketball team, fine,
00:12:29but 1-6 in SEC play entering Calipari's return to Rupp Arena
00:12:35and to face Big Blue Nation.
00:12:36They, of course, won that game outright as an underdog.
00:12:39They won eight of their last 13 in eight games booked as a dog,
00:12:43including that one against the Cats.
00:12:45They are 6-2 against the number.
00:12:47I like Arkansas.
00:12:48I think the addition of Boogie Flann to go with a couple of experienced guys
00:12:53in the tournament, Trevin Brazil, Nelly Davis, who you saw right there,
00:12:57of course, playing for FAU in that magical Final Four run.
00:13:01I'll take Arkansas.
00:13:02I'll take Arkansas with the points.
00:13:04And I do think the Hogs win this game outright.
00:13:07Really great 8-9 matchup for another team much like Louisville
00:13:11that, frankly, probably has no business being on the eight line.
00:13:14It's in the Midwest region.
00:13:16It is Gonzaga and Georgia.
00:13:18Gonzaga, DRS, ninth in the net, eighth in Ken Palm,
00:13:23and yet an eight seed.
00:13:25The Zags a six-and-a-half point favorite against Georgia out of the SEC.
00:13:30Another test for a mediocre team, middle of the pack in the SEC this year.
00:13:35A lot of great quad one victories for UGA.
00:13:38We'll see the strength of the Southeastern Conference.
00:13:40Six-and-a-half point spread in favor of Mark Few and his Bulldogs.
00:13:44Where do you start your breakdown?
00:13:46Yeah, the breakdown for me initially when the brackets came out on Sunday
00:13:49and I said, you know what?
00:13:50I'm going to trust the SEC.
00:13:51I'm going to pick Georgia for the upset.
00:13:52I know a lot of people are going to be on Gonzaga,
00:13:53and it was a pretty strong number at that minus six-and-a-half
00:13:56that they're sitting at as the favorite.
00:13:57And the more you get to it, it's not as if Gonzaga is missed seeded.
00:14:01We're just not used to seeing Gonzaga seeded so low.
00:14:03They're usually fighting for the top overall spot most years here,
00:14:06at least a number one seed or at the worst a number two seed.
00:14:09Now they sort of fall back.
00:14:10So is this the year that they don't have the pressure on them
00:14:13where they play better basketball?
00:14:14And just looking at Georgia, yeah, Georgia does some nice things.
00:14:17They have some quality victories on the season,
00:14:19including beating the Florida Gators, who some think are the hottest team,
00:14:22if not the best team in the tournament at this time.
00:14:24But Gonzaga's offensive efficiency is going to prevail
00:14:28because when you're not overwhelmingly dominant from the three-point line
00:14:31on a team that's efficient, that tells you everything you need to know.
00:14:34If the three-point shot is there, sure, they'll take it.
00:14:36But they're going to get the best possible look every single time down court.
00:14:40It was too hard for me to pass up.
00:14:41Spread-wise, I don't really know if they're going to cover the six-and-a-half or not.
00:14:44But winning this basketball game, I flipped over from Georgia to Gonzaga yesterday.
00:14:48So I'm going to go with the Gonzaga Bulldogs advancing here.
00:14:50Not really sure, though, about the six-and-a-half line.
00:14:53DRS, I would agree with you.
00:14:55I wanted to lay the six-and-a-half with Gonzaga.
00:14:57This line opened at four-and-a-half.
00:14:59I missed it as I was hosting our selection show on Sunday.
00:15:02I think that's a good number.
00:15:03I think there's been some market buyback for Georgia.
00:15:06Key for the Bulldogs and Mike White, pay attention to Asa Newell
00:15:09trying to man the paint against a Gonzaga team that is just so highly efficient.
00:15:14Again, Mark Few in his 20-plus years in Spokane
00:15:17has not reached the mountaintop of this sport.
00:15:20Gonzaga has not won a national championship yet.
00:15:22But they have made the Sweet 16.
00:15:24I think going on 11 consecutive seasons, Gonzaga should win this game.
00:15:28They will be tested with that Sweet 16 streak against, more than likely,
00:15:32Houston, the one seed in the Midwest region in that next game in the round of 32.
00:15:37Another very compelling matchup that we have here in the opening round.
00:15:41We'll show you the numbers from the West region.
00:15:43It's the 6-11 split.
00:15:45Missouri, the sixth seed against a team that, including myself,
00:15:50a lot of people think can make a Cinderella run.
00:15:53In the 11th seed of the champions out of the Missouri Valley,
00:15:56that would be the Drake Bulldogs.
00:15:58But it starts in the opening round.
00:16:00We continue our previews next.
00:16:02Some really phenomenal 6-11 games on this opening Thursday
00:16:06in the round of 64 at the men's NCAA tournament.
00:16:10Let's start in the West region.
00:16:12Missouri out of the SEC in unreal turnaround this year,
00:16:15led by Dennis Gates.
00:16:16They went winless, 0-4, of 19 games in the SEC last year.
00:16:22Now a sixth seed in the big dance, but they take on a team in Drake
00:16:26where Ben McCollum did not skip a beat,
00:16:28continuing the winning ways for this team out of Des Moines.
00:16:31Third consecutive NCAA tournament as the champions out of the MVC,
00:16:37that being the Missouri Valley Conference.
00:16:39DRS, a lot of people, including myself, very high on this Drake team,
00:16:43believing Drake can not only win this game,
00:16:45but maybe begin a Cinderella run as an 11th seed
00:16:49to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.
00:16:52But so much so that everybody is betting Drake
00:16:55as a six-and-a-half point underdog today against Mizzou,
00:16:58with a low total at 132-and-a-half.
00:17:02Are you buying into the Bulldogs,
00:17:04or do you think there might be a little bit too much public attention?
00:17:07Again, they're really good, but it is public attention.
00:17:10The six-and-a-half point number, yes, you can thread the needle and say,
00:17:14well, I think Drake can probably cover the spread.
00:17:16I don't know if they can win and cover that. I get it.
00:17:18But yeah, you're not getting double digits.
00:17:20You're in that foul mayhem of the final minute-and-a-half
00:17:23that's probably going to be at your leisure.
00:17:25You need to actually think Drake can come in here and pull this upset
00:17:28and win it outright in order to bet them at the six-and-a-half points.
00:17:31But I see those totals, and I say 132-and-a-half.
00:17:33We know how slow Drake is.
00:17:35But the efficiency on offense on both sides,
00:17:37Missouri's top five in the country.
00:17:39I see Drake, and the things that Drake likes to do,
00:17:41like Missouri's defense doesn't rebound all that well.
00:17:43Drake does. Drake loves to get to the free-throw line.
00:17:46Missouri will foul. Just flip it over to the other side.
00:17:48Drake will foul. Missouri loves the free-throw line.
00:17:50These two teams shoot at a high level from three-point range.
00:17:53They're going to get to the free-throw line.
00:17:55Let's say Missouri turns over Drake and gets some easy baskets,
00:17:58and if Missouri is the team leading and being efficient,
00:18:01Drake's going to have to up the tempo a bit and get their shot selection improving.
00:18:04So one of the first times I'm taking a look at a game and saying,
00:18:07I think Missouri wins, and rightfully so, they're favored by 6-and-a-half.
00:18:10But at the same time, I look at that 132-and-a-half, and I think that's light here.
00:18:13I don't think there's any reason to believe that one of these teams can approach 70 points
00:18:16to push you over that number based on what the spread is.
00:18:19Two good offenses, and they fit pretty much like a glove here on what they want to do.
00:18:24DRS, who's been one of my favorite over teams to end out this college basketball campaign.
00:18:28It has been Missouri, not just playing to be over,
00:18:31but so overwhelmingly over the pregame point total,
00:18:34you really haven't even had to sweat it out.
00:18:37Missouri over an eighth of its last nine games,
00:18:40but Drake is the slowest team in the country.
00:18:43You'll see the Mizzou Tigers here, led by Dennis Gates,
00:18:46with a lot of talent, Caleb Grill, Mark Mitchell down low,
00:18:49a lot of great players for this Tigers team.
00:18:52Drake is the slowest team, slowest team in college basketball,
00:18:57pace 364 out of 364.
00:19:01If the Bulldogs are going to win this game, I don't think can go flying over that number.
00:19:06Can it go over? Because it's 132.5, and Drake is very efficient
00:19:10in how it constructs its offense.
00:19:12Sure. Can it be in the 150s?
00:19:14I don't think that is a style of play that favors Ben McCollum and his Bulldogs.
00:19:19Keep an eye on Bennett Sturtz, the Valley Conference Player of the Year,
00:19:22one of the best players, truly, in college basketball.
00:19:26That game in KC going to be a lot of fanfare on, or excuse me, not KC,
00:19:31in Wichita, that game going to have a lot of fanfare on either side.
00:19:36All right, DRS, next up, another great 6-11 matchup.
00:19:41We've got VCU, the 11th seed, and the champions out of the A-10,
00:19:46taking on the 6th seed, that being BYU.
00:19:50This is the 6-11 game in the East Region.
00:19:53And Donnie, if you want offense and you want teams that hoist from deep,
00:19:57this is the game for you.
00:19:59Again, just a two-and-a-half point spread in favor of BYU,
00:20:03total at 147-and-a-half, who comes out with a victory in the round of 64.
00:20:08Two of my favorite teams in the entire tournament to sort of watch in handicap,
00:20:11and they're going to match up in round number one.
00:20:13And once they get to round number two, probably even more fun,
00:20:15because BYU and VCU might be matching up against Wisconsin.
00:20:18We'll get there in just a little bit.
00:20:19But look at VCU's defense, top 25 in the country in efficiency.
00:20:22We know how good BYU's offense is.
00:20:24But you take a look at defending the three-point line.
00:20:27VCU does it.
00:20:28Chasing you off of the three-point line, VCU does that.
00:20:31Flip it over to VCU's offense here.
00:20:33They love the three-point shot.
00:20:34They'll take a lot of them.
00:20:36You know who doesn't defend the three-point shot
00:20:37and let you shoot the three-point shot?
00:20:39It's BYU.
00:20:40You might look at BYU being one of those dark horses
00:20:42that could possibly make a run to the final four.
00:20:44I get that.
00:20:45But they've got to get through VCU.
00:20:46And you know what?
00:20:47I want VCU.
00:20:48Slight upset here in my bracket here.
00:20:50VCU advances over BYU
00:20:52just because the styles make a perfect fight for VCU.
00:20:56Just play your game, VCU, and execute.
00:20:58I think they win this game.
00:20:59I do.
00:21:00Yeah, Donnie, I think it's a great look.
00:21:02The Rams are a really good offensive team.
00:21:04Ryan Odom is a guy that is known
00:21:06for the most historic upset we have ever seen.
00:21:082018, he was the head coach at UMBC
00:21:11when they beat Virginia.
00:21:13But what I don't think VCU gets enough credit for
00:21:15is how tenacious they are,
00:21:16running you off the three-point line.
00:21:18That's where I think the Rams have the distinction
00:21:20in this game.
00:21:22Mark Zinno joins us on that.
00:21:23It is time to win with Zinn
00:21:25on the opening round of 64 Thursday
00:21:28for the 2025 Big Dance
00:21:30live right here on the early line.
00:21:32Mark Zinno joins us right here on TEL.
00:21:35We will go region by region
00:21:37around the NCAA tournament.
00:21:39Our first-round games
00:21:40that will impact those odds to win a region
00:21:43to get to the final four in San Antonio
00:21:46and who Mark Zinno sees
00:21:47cutting down the nets as a national champion
00:21:5019 days from now.
00:21:52Zinno, thank you so much for joining us here
00:21:55on the best day of the sporting year.
00:21:57By far your best day and favorite day.
00:21:59You didn't even watch the Super Bowl.
00:22:01Happy to have you here for the Big Dance.
00:22:03I won't miss anything of today, I can promise you.
00:22:06Come 12-15, Creighton and Louisville
00:22:08tip this thing off here.
00:22:09My tush will be firmly planted in front of the TV
00:22:12for the rest of the night
00:22:13until about 11 o'clock tonight.
00:22:15Our first game in the first round, Mark Zinno,
00:22:18is in the South region.
00:22:20That's where we begin.
00:22:21Also in the South region,
00:22:22the number one overall seed
00:22:23in the entirety of the field of 68,
00:22:26that would be the Auburn Tigers,
00:22:28the outright regular season champs in the SEC.
00:22:30But entering the Big Dance, Zinno,
00:22:32on a slight slide,
00:22:33they have dropped three of their last four games,
00:22:36causing just a little bit of concern, perhaps,
00:22:38for Bruce Pearl's team
00:22:39and their outlook the remainder of this season.
00:22:42But Auburn's still booked as a minus 105 favorite
00:22:45to win the South region.
00:22:46Let's start big picture first.
00:22:48Are you concerned by the Tigers' recent form of play?
00:22:52I mean, concerned isn't really the right word.
00:22:54I have my skepticism about them
00:22:56being able to make the Final Four.
00:22:58I mean, that's ultimately what it boils down to.
00:23:00We've seen them trip up before.
00:23:02We've seen them be this caliber of team before
00:23:05and not figure out how to get through four games in March
00:23:08to get to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.
00:23:10And that's really what it boils down to,
00:23:12is how much do you really trust them?
00:23:14I don't think it's a great time for them to be playing
00:23:17some of their most average basketball
00:23:19that they've played all year long.
00:23:21But, you know, you take a look at this team,
00:23:23you know how good the athletes are,
00:23:24you know what they do on both ends of the floor.
00:23:26They certainly profile like a team
00:23:28that could win a national championship.
00:23:29For them, now it's about going out and executing
00:23:31and making sure you get it done.
00:23:34Yeah, I'm not worried all that much about Auburn.
00:23:36Like, tough competition,
00:23:37you're going to lose some of those games.
00:23:39They're healthy at the right time,
00:23:40so I'm giving expectations and high expectations to Auburn.
00:23:43But as we look at this bracket overall, Mark,
00:23:45like, let's have some fun with this stuff.
00:23:46Is there a team that you have your eye on
00:23:48that could make a run that maybe
00:23:50some people aren't looking to make a run?
00:23:52I'm not saying that they're going to win
00:23:53the national championship,
00:23:54but just in this bracket alone,
00:23:55maybe pick up at least two games.
00:23:59Well, look, I think UC San Diego is the team
00:24:01that everybody is looking at here
00:24:02to upset Michigan in the first round.
00:24:04Forget the 5-12.
00:24:05Like, can we just stop with 5-12 and the seeds?
00:24:07Just look at the darn game for what it's worth.
00:24:09Right?
00:24:10UC San Diego is a really good shooting team.
00:24:13They are absolutely one of the dagger three-pointer teams
00:24:18that we've seen throughout the entire year.
00:24:20They're built to be able to make a run
00:24:22because they can shoot better
00:24:24than 80% of the teams in the tournament.
00:24:26I mean, that's ultimately what it boils down to.
00:24:28They play fast, they get up and down, and they score.
00:24:30And that's something that really helps you
00:24:32in the NCAA tournament.
00:24:33Oh, by the way, they're not terrible on the defensive end,
00:24:35but this is also a Michigan team right now
00:24:37that played four games in four days,
00:24:39probably shouldn't have won the Big Ten tournament.
00:24:41I mean, it took Wisconsin's shooting 22%
00:24:45for an entire game for them to win that game.
00:24:48So, you know, I think they're probably
00:24:50a little bit overvalued as a five seed
00:24:52and overseeded because they won the Big Ten
00:24:54when they really probably shouldn't have
00:24:55and weren't good enough to.
00:24:56And I think UC San Diego can win one.
00:24:58And look, if Yale sneaks past A&M,
00:25:01this is a UC San Diego team that could be in the Sweet 16.
00:25:05UC San Diego is a very talented team.
00:25:07They're first year eligible for the Big Dance,
00:25:10and they are there as a D1 program,
00:25:12led by head coach Eric Olin
00:25:14and the Big West Player of the Year
00:25:16in Aniwa Niwote Jones.
00:25:17And Donny is going to love a guy
00:25:19if he's up tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern time
00:25:21for a tip in Denver, Colorado
00:25:23by the name of Tyler McGuy.
00:25:25It looks like Donny's favorite player
00:25:26is to play in the cornerback position
00:25:28in the National Football League.
00:25:30Zeno, you mentioned A&M and Yale.
00:25:33Four-13 split.
00:25:34In 10 of the last 14 NCAA tournaments,
00:25:37we have seen a 13-seed pull off the upset against a four,
00:25:41including last year.
00:25:42Yale, as a 13-seed against the team that you said
00:25:46has been disappointing in the Big Dance last year.
00:25:49It was Auburn as a four-seed out of the SEC.
00:25:52Now it is Texas A&M.
00:25:53Seven and a half points spread
00:25:55in favor of Buzz Williams and his Aggies.
00:25:57Just how competitive do you expect this game to be?
00:26:01It's all about game script.
00:26:02The first five minutes of this game
00:26:03are going to decide whether A&M is in
00:26:05for the fight of their lives
00:26:07or they're just going to beat Yale
00:26:09in every aspect of the game.
00:26:11Let's just put this objectively.
00:26:12A&M's offense is awful.
00:26:14It is garbage.
00:26:16Like, it is a pathetically bad offense
00:26:18for a team in the SEC.
00:26:20And the numbers back that up.
00:26:22317th in effective field goal percentage.
00:26:24317th in three-point shooting.
00:26:26292nd in two-point shooting.
00:26:28273rd in free throw shooting.
00:26:30This is a bad offense.
00:26:31Bad offense all around.
00:26:33They're bad at scoring.
00:26:34Now I know they've had some injuries this year.
00:26:36And certainly that has played a big part
00:26:37in some of their numbers.
00:26:38Wade Taylor, obviously back for A&M here.
00:26:41But what this boils down to is
00:26:43how good will A&M's defense be on the perimeter
00:26:46against the ninth-best three-point shooting team
00:26:49in the country?
00:26:50If you look up at the stat box
00:26:52and you get to the eight-minute timeout
00:26:53of this first half here
00:26:55and you see that Yale is four for eight from three,
00:26:59it's going to be a very close game
00:27:01and Yale's going to be in this thing.
00:27:02If they are two for nine, guess what?
00:27:05A&M's defense is working.
00:27:06And A&M's slow pace and ability to win inside
00:27:09is going to control this entire game.
00:27:11But that's really what it boils down to here
00:27:13is that if Yale is making threes early,
00:27:15A&M is going to be fighting for their lives
00:27:17for all 40 minutes.
00:27:19Let's take a look at the elephant in the room
00:27:21in this region here.
00:27:22North Carolina Tar Heels
00:27:24absolutely smash San Diego State.
00:27:27So what happens now with Carolina for you, Mark?
00:27:29Is that a bump for them that they deserve to be here?
00:27:32Now that we see the run, they prove everybody wrong.
00:27:34How are you handling North Carolina?
00:27:36Look, I said this, even as much as I openly object
00:27:39at the North Carolina being in this tournament,
00:27:41I remind everybody this.
00:27:42What you do in the tournament is not validation
00:27:45for whether you should have been in or not.
00:27:47It never has been, it never will be.
00:27:49They're completely separate events.
00:27:51They have nothing to do with each other, okay?
00:27:53We're talking about their regular season resume,
00:27:55and the next game they play has nothing to do with that.
00:27:57So North Carolina, yes,
00:27:59they clearly have a chip on their shoulder
00:28:01and are playing with one
00:28:03because of everything that everybody said.
00:28:05Oh, by the way, isn't Bubba Cunningham cute?
00:28:07Not only did he get his team in the tournament,
00:28:08he gave them an extra day's rest
00:28:09because they don't play until tomorrow.
00:28:11But, you know, let's not make any conspiracy theories here
00:28:13about North Carolina's AD.
00:28:15Beyond all that, Ole Miss is ripe for the picking.
00:28:17North Carolina's winning this game.
00:28:18I don't necessarily like to play against teams
00:28:20that after a big blowout win, you know,
00:28:23to come back and play on them again.
00:28:25But it's not like North Carolina's laying four
00:28:27or six or anything here.
00:28:29Take them on the money line.
00:28:30Get the hell out of Dodge.
00:28:32Ole Miss is ripe for the picking
00:28:34to be knocked out in the first game of this tournament.
00:28:36Minus 120.
00:28:38That's all you got to lay for UNC
00:28:40as a slight money line favorite.
00:28:4283%.
00:28:4483% of the money back in the heels
00:28:48in that opening round matchup.
00:28:50Zeno, let's get to the West region, right below the South,
00:28:53where the one seed is also a team out of the SEC,
00:28:56that being Florida.
00:28:58Perhaps the hottest or most dangerous team
00:29:00entering the big dance after winning the SEC tourney title.
00:29:04Florida minus 135 to win this region,
00:29:07advance to a Final Four.
00:29:09But, Zeno, you go up and down this portion of the bracket.
00:29:12Great teams, great storylines, great coaches.
00:29:15How do you make sense of the West region?
00:29:18I'll never let anybody tell you that the NCAA tournament
00:29:20isn't a made-for-TV event
00:29:22because the way they put the bottom of this bracket
00:29:24is all about TV.
00:29:26You got Bill Self and John Calipari going against each other
00:29:28in round one.
00:29:29And who will they meet in round two?
00:29:31Oh, it'll be Rick Pitino coaching against one of them.
00:29:33Three of the oldest and most seasoned coaches
00:29:35in all of college basketball.
00:29:36So, yes, this is 100% a made-for-TV event
00:29:39when you look at it.
00:29:40But there are a lot of interesting matchups here.
00:29:42And I have a lot of plays here in this first round.
00:29:44I think the most interesting matchup really
00:29:46is the Memphis Colorado State.
00:29:48I don't know how much Ben Stevens buys into.
00:29:51The Mountain West always seems to flame out
00:29:53in the NCAA tournament.
00:29:55It's narrative.
00:29:56Maybe some coincidence.
00:29:58I don't know if there's any data point you could stick to that.
00:30:00But it is very telling that the Colorado State Buffaloes
00:30:02are two-and-a-half-point favorites
00:30:04over the five-seed Memphis Tigers.
00:30:06And some of that may just be the fact that Memphis,
00:30:10as a five-seed, probably was a little bit overvalued
00:30:13all year long and really wasn't as good
00:30:15as the top 25 ranking that they had.
00:30:17So, that'll be an interesting game to watch.
00:30:20The Tigers had a great non-conference.
00:30:22They won five games against five teams in the tournament.
00:30:25I think that is why they are on the five line.
00:30:27But, Zeno, to your point, at least based on the power ratings,
00:30:30there are 25 teams on KenPOM rated higher than Memphis
00:30:34that are seated lower than the Tigers in the NCAA tournament.
00:30:38We'll talk more around the round of 64 with Mark Zeno up next.
00:30:43We are live right here on this round of 64 Thursday
00:30:46on the early line on Sports Grid.
00:30:48We are going region by region throughout the 2025 Big Dance
00:30:52with Mark Zeno, not only looking at the overall outlook,
00:30:55who makes a march through the madness,
00:30:57but also, of course, how it will all factor out
00:31:00on a game-to-game, round-by-round basis.
00:31:03Zeno, we were just talking about the West region.
00:31:05It is absolutely stacked.
00:31:07You highlighted Arkansas and Kansas tonight in the 7-10 split.
00:31:11Florida is the one seed in a minus-135 favorite.
00:31:14The Gators start their march through the madness tomorrow
00:31:17against Norfolk State.
00:31:19The three seed in the West region is Texas Tech.
00:31:22Of all teams on the three line in the tournament,
00:31:25the Red Raiders have the best price to win a national championship
00:31:28at 31-1.
00:31:30The Red Raiders, a hefty favorite today in their opening game
00:31:33against the champions out of the CAA,
00:31:36Takao Siddle and UNC Wilmington.
00:31:39How do you approach the opening round matchup
00:31:41for Grant McCaslin and his Texas Tech team?
00:31:44Yeah, I'm still pissed at Grant McCaslin
00:31:47for shooting 19% in the second half of that game against Baylor,
00:31:51where I had a ton on Texas Tech,
00:31:53laying five and a half of them only to win by two.
00:31:55So it's kind of surprising for me
00:31:57that I'm actually willing to go back to the well
00:31:59with this Texas Tech team.
00:32:00One, I think they're an Elite-A team,
00:32:02and I think they're playing for a right to go
00:32:04to the Final Four out of this bracket when it's all said and done.
00:32:07But this for them, again, is really about their offense.
00:32:09We know their defense is going to perform.
00:32:11I don't think there's really any question.
00:32:12It's how consistent can their offense be?
00:32:14Again, I talk about that game a couple of weeks ago
00:32:16against Baylor a week or so.
00:32:18They shoot the lights out in the first half
00:32:20and then 19% in the second half.
00:32:22They can't have a lull like that in the NCAA tournament.
00:32:24There's too many teams playing with house money
00:32:26that are going to take advantage of it where there is no tomorrow.
00:32:28So they've got to get this offense moving
00:32:31and be able to push 80 points
00:32:33and really kind of put the fear of God into people that,
00:32:35hey, you know what, we're going to beat you on both ends of the floor
00:32:37for a full 40 minutes.
00:32:39Yeah, interesting stuff, too, in that,
00:32:41because trying to line these teams up
00:32:43and which team is going to play the best,
00:32:44look, sometimes it's tough to do.
00:32:46Let's head over here to the east.
00:32:47It's the Duke Blue Devils.
00:32:48The reason I bring that up is we think Duke's the best.
00:32:50Their price is the best.
00:32:52My question to you is, out of this region,
00:32:54does Duke make the Elite-A into the Final Four,
00:32:57or can somebody knock them out?
00:32:59Could it be Mississippi State Baylor?
00:33:00Could it be Arizona?
00:33:01Could it be Oregon?
00:33:02Could it be Liberty on a hot run?
00:33:04Or is Duke just too good and expect them to win this region, Mark?
00:33:08Must have read my mind there, DRS,
00:33:10because I don't have Duke to the Elite-A.
00:33:13In fact, they do it.
00:33:14Look, I think there's a couple things that are going to happen here.
00:33:18One, Duke is going to find out how the other half lives
00:33:20now that they're out of the ACC.
00:33:22And I'm not necessarily, you know, saying that, look,
00:33:25they can't hang with other talent,
00:33:27but they haven't really had to do so since December, right?
00:33:30And they haven't played a close game other than losing to Clemson
00:33:34since December.
00:33:36Let's find out how really battle-tested they are
00:33:38in really tough minutes against teams that, again,
00:33:41have nothing to play for and are playing with house money
00:33:43in games that may be tighter than expected.
00:33:45The other thing about Arizona I think that is, you know,
00:33:48really significant here, I always look at matchups and styles
00:33:51when it comes to the NCAA tournament.
00:33:53And you look at Arizona,
00:33:55that is a team that can do everything that Duke can do.
00:33:59Certainly they play faster, but they get up and down.
00:34:02They are a team that rebounds really well.
00:34:04They can have somebody guard Cooper Flagg inside.
00:34:06They can play man-to-man with him
00:34:08and not get totally dominated for 40 minutes.
00:34:11They can take Duke's game and throw it right back in their face,
00:34:14which is ultimately why I believe they're going to beat Duke
00:34:17and head to the Final Four out of that east region.
00:34:20Ooh, I love the bravado there, Mark Zinno.
00:34:23I think Arizona is in for a challenge tomorrow against Akron.
00:34:27I know you do.
00:34:31Listen, you're not wrong.
00:34:33I think Arizona's biggest challenge
00:34:35is getting through the first game, right?
00:34:37Some of these teams' biggest challenge is winning the first game
00:34:40and getting their feet underneath them and going,
00:34:42as long as we get out of Dodge in the first game, who cares?
00:34:44But there'll be much...
00:34:46Like, Arizona's a team that when I look at, I would agree with you.
00:34:49They may struggle in game one.
00:34:51Then when that number comes all the way down in game two,
00:34:53they come out and they hammer their next opponent.
00:34:55It isn't.
00:34:57By the way, I think Arizona wins that game.
00:34:59I just think John Gross and the Zips play at a tempo
00:35:02that could match Arizona, if not faster.
00:35:04We go up and down, and shots are being hit.
00:35:06I think the Zips can stay within that 13½, 14½-point number.
00:35:11So if Duke were to be knocked off, Mark Zinno,
00:35:13you look at the bottom half of that bracket
00:35:16and what might open up for some of those teams,
00:35:19including the three-seed in the east region,
00:35:21that is Wisconsin.
00:35:23And their 3-14 matchup today
00:35:25against the champions of starch madness
00:35:28out in big-sky country, that being Montana.
00:35:31Wisconsin's 17½-point favorite against the Grizz.
00:35:34How do you break down this opening-round matchup on a Thursday?
00:35:37Give me all the Montana Grizz love in the first half, Ben Stevenson,
00:35:42on the right side. Why?
00:35:44Because simply, what does Montana do really well?
00:35:47Make threes. What does Wisconsin do really well?
00:35:49Defend everybody.
00:35:51So if Montana can start this game making threes,
00:35:54similar to what we talked about with Yale and Texas A&M,
00:35:56if they can make threes early and make it tight for Wisconsin,
00:36:00and an offense that has been very questionable
00:36:03over the last two-plus weeks of the season.
00:36:05Again, they shot 22% in a basketball game for all 40 minutes.
00:36:08The three of us could do that if we needed to.
00:36:10So I don't have a ton of faith in the Wisconsin offense right now.
00:36:14But the thing is this.
00:36:15If Wisconsin is leading by 10 or 12½,
00:36:19the Grizz are not crawling their way back into this thing
00:36:22because Wisconsin's defense is too good.
00:36:24So I'll take the Montana Grizzlies, plus 9½, plus 10 in the first half
00:36:28to keep this thing close.
00:36:30BYU-VCU, come on now.
00:36:32Can one of these teams make a run through 16, get to the Elite A,
00:36:35three balls going all down, all over the place?
00:36:37It's what we love.
00:36:38When this game came out on Sunday and I saw the total at 142,
00:36:43I screamed, over, over, over, over, over.
00:36:45BYU doesn't defend anybody. They're playing at elevation.
00:36:47They're going to make a ton of threes. Go over.
00:36:49That total shot up to 147.
00:36:51We've seen some buyback come back down.
00:36:53That said, everybody smart that I talk to is on VCU plus the points here.
00:36:57BYU, if they are not making shots and they're not making threes,
00:37:02they are dead in the water.
00:37:04And we've seen this from them before.
00:37:06Now, how much do you question the fact that they are in Denver
00:37:10playing at elevation, which BYU is used to,
00:37:13as an advantage over them over VCU?
00:37:16I don't know if it necessarily may help them in this game.
00:37:18Somehow, if BYU survives, I think it's a huge advantage for them
00:37:21in the second game because they are used to being there,
00:37:24as where other opponents would be more tired for being at elevation,
00:37:27for being there longer.
00:37:29So, I mean, again, no real feel on this.
00:37:32I still think this game goes over if it's at 145.
00:37:35I still think there's a bunch of shots made by BYU
00:37:37and their defense couldn't stop a nosebleed.
00:37:40We'll talk about the Midwest region on the other side of the break
00:37:43with Mark Zinno, the outlook for that portion of the bracket.
00:37:47And then we'll see Mark Zinno's bracket.
00:37:50Who's in a Final Four?
00:37:52Who's winning a national championship in San Antonio?
00:37:55That and plenty more on the other side of the break,
00:37:57live right here on this round of 64, Thursday,
00:38:01on The Early Line On Sports.
00:38:03We round out this second hour, a half an hour with Mark Zinno,
00:38:06where we continue to win, live right here on this Thursday
00:38:10in the round of 64 for the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament.
00:38:14All right, Zinno, our fourth and final region to discuss with you.
00:38:17That would be the Midwest.
00:38:19Houston is the top team in this portion of the bracket.
00:38:23Tennessee at the bottom, a three seed in Kentucky,
00:38:26and a Xavier team that got super hot last night,
00:38:29trying to make some noise there as well.
00:38:31And also a very exciting eight seed that Houston might see
00:38:35in that round of 32 in Gonzaga.
00:38:38Let's talk about the odds.
00:38:39Houston is a favorite at plus 125,
00:38:42but unlike the other very talented teams on the one line,
00:38:46Houston is the only number one seed not to be at least
00:38:49in the slight minus money to win its region
00:38:52and advance to a Final Four.
00:38:55Do you think that is fitting,
00:38:56or do you think the Cougs can get all the way to San Antonio?
00:38:59I think when you look at the top half of that bracket
00:39:01and Tennessee at the bottom, yeah,
00:39:03I understand why Houston is not a minus money favorite
00:39:05to win this bracket.
00:39:06There's some pitfalls along the way for the Cougars.
00:39:11All the way through at that point.
00:39:12Now, let's get those pitfalls, though.
00:39:15Yeah, concise.
00:39:16We love the effort.
00:39:17Give us some teams that could knock them off.
00:39:19Give me some upsets here.
00:39:20Let's go.
00:39:21I mean, I will tell you that the one team
00:39:23that everybody is forgetting about,
00:39:25and I guarantee you Ben is on the opposite side of this,
00:39:27but the one team everybody is forgetting about in this region
00:39:30is the Clemson Tigers.
00:39:33This is a strong conference.
00:39:34Very strong.
00:39:35How dare you think I'm some public schmuck
00:39:38that just loves McNeese?
00:39:40I highlight Brad Brownell and what he has done
00:39:43in 15 years in Clemson, South Carolina,
00:39:46an Elite Eight team with a very similar cast and crew
00:39:49back this year led by Chase Hunter and Ian Sheflin.
00:39:52How dare you, sir?
00:39:54I'm sorry.
00:39:55I figured you would be on McNeese in the first round
00:39:57getting the points like the rest of them.
00:39:59Yeah, I know.
00:40:00That's it.
00:40:01Look, I think Clemson is the one team
00:40:03that can throw Houston's game right back in their face.
00:40:06They're not afraid to play slow.
00:40:07They slow everybody down.
00:40:09They don't mind banging around inside.
00:40:11That's exactly what they love to do.
00:40:13This is a great shooting team.
00:40:14They're great from three.
00:40:16You know, they make their free throws for crying out loud.
00:40:18That's really important in the NCAA tournament.
00:40:21And they are very good on the defensive side of the ball.
00:40:24I mean, they actually play slower than Houston.
00:40:27They're 363rd out of 364 teams in tempo.
00:40:30So, like, this is a Clemson team that knows how to handle Houston.
00:40:35That's Houston's advantage is that they wrinkle you
00:40:37and they squeeze you into playing their way.
00:40:39Clemson's like, okay, cool.
00:40:41We got this.
00:40:42This is the way we love to play.
00:40:43This is our game.
00:40:44So, I think they can throw it right back in the face
00:40:45of the Houston Cougars.
00:40:46And I think that's where Houston gets knocked out here
00:40:48is in the Sweet 16 against the Clemson Tigers.
00:40:50I like it.
00:40:54I guess it is kind of me now, right?
00:40:56We're a little bit back and forth.
00:40:59The only game we have yet to preview that we were supposed to
00:41:02in our first two hours in the Midwest region,
00:41:05an intriguing 7-10 game I can't make a lot of sense of.
00:41:08Hopefully, you can help.
00:41:09UCLA now out of the Big 10, a 7 seed against Utah State,
00:41:13a 10 seed from the Mount West.
00:41:16Five and a half points spread in favor of the Bruins,
00:41:18total in the low 140s.
00:41:20How do you break down this matchup?
00:41:23How much crying do you think Mick Cronin did about having to travel
00:41:25back east again for the sixth time this year?
00:41:27I've seen the Statue of Liberty three times for Christmas.
00:41:30Oh, shut up.
00:41:31Like, stop whining, dude.
00:41:32Just go play ball.
00:41:33But, yes, his team will go out and play ball tonight,
00:41:35and I think they win and cover this number here at five and a half.
00:41:38Look, it's their defense, right?
00:41:39I mean, that's really what it boils down to for them.
00:41:42You've got to stop Utah State from making threes,
00:41:44and you've just got to be able to execute inside against this team.
00:41:47And I think that, you know, UCLA, for all of Mick Cronin's bemoaning
00:41:51about travel, like, I think it kind of helps them in this spot
00:41:54that they've been road warriors a lot this year
00:41:56and that they are used to being away from comfort, you know,
00:41:59comforts out in Southern California,
00:42:01and they can handle this moment here.
00:42:03So, I like the Bruins tonight in this game.
00:42:05I laid the five and a half with them.
00:42:06So, I think Mick and company get it done.
00:42:09Yeah, look at that.
00:42:10Mick Cronin always can plan.
00:42:11What does he want to do?
00:42:12Give the Statue of Liberty back to France?
00:42:13Stop the madness here.
00:42:14Let's get to the final four marks, you know.
00:42:16What do you got?
00:42:17Who's your final four?
00:42:19Well, I only have one number one seed getting to the final four.
00:42:22That's the Florida Gators,
00:42:23who will meet Iowa State out of the south region, who upsets Auburn.
00:42:27And then I have Arizona, as I told you,
00:42:29who beats Duke coming out of the east region.
00:42:31And let's give a nod finally to Rick Barnes to cut down the nets
00:42:34and get to the final four out of the south region.
00:42:36While Clemson will beat Houston,
00:42:38Tennessee will end up beating Clemson to go to the final four.
00:42:42Arizona and Tennessee on one side, Florida, Iowa State on the others.
00:42:46And chomp, chomp, guys.
00:42:48Best team in the country wins this whole thing.
00:42:49Florida Gators cut down the nets.
00:42:50Oh, Gators.
00:42:51Wow.
00:42:53Oh, no, Mark Zinno.
00:42:54You think I'm just some public schmo.
00:42:57I also have Florida winning a national championship.
00:43:00What are we going to do?
00:43:02Intel.
00:43:03I won't do the Gator job, though.
00:43:05Yeah, listen.
00:43:06Intel.
00:43:07That algo's starting to spin once again.
00:43:10Zinno, fantastic stuff.
00:43:12Enjoy the games.
00:43:13Happy that we don't have to watch a movie about a dog who's a police
00:43:16officer today.
00:43:17Enjoy it all.
00:43:19Our number three on the other side of the bridge here on TV.
00:43:22We welcome you to our number three,
00:43:24our third and final on this glorious Thursday,
00:43:27live right here on the early line.
00:43:29It is the round of 64 at the 2025 men's NCAA tournament where the big
00:43:34dance in all of the madness fully begins.
00:43:37We have 16 games on this Thursday.
00:43:40The first tips between Creighton and Louisville in Lexington,
00:43:44Kentucky at 12 p.m.
00:43:46Eastern time.
00:43:47Our final game between Texas Tech and UNC Wilmington,
00:43:51I believe in Wichita tipping a little bit after 10,
00:43:5410 p.m.
00:43:55Eastern time.
00:43:56That is the schedule for right now.
00:43:58But what it means 16 games and about 13 straight hours of NCAA
00:44:04tournament action in college basketball.
00:44:07He is Donnie right side.
00:44:08I am Ben Stevens.
00:44:09We continue to get you set for everything you will see around the big
00:44:12dance.
00:44:13We'll break down all 16 games as we have to at our opening two hours on
00:44:17this Thursday.
00:44:18And of course,
00:44:19the RS before we go a pick six to break down the entirety of the brackets,
00:44:25Cinderella teams,
00:44:26round of 64,
00:44:27best bets.
00:44:28And of course the teams that we expect to see cutting down the nets in San
00:44:31Antonio,
00:44:3219 days from now on a Monday night in the Alamo dome.
00:44:36So much to get to here in this third and final hour.
00:44:39Time is ticking on the brackets right now.
00:44:42As you see a 10 a.m.
00:44:43East coast time,
00:44:44about two hours time.
00:44:45We're going to have games underway.
00:44:46Moneyline cuz come up after this show.
00:44:48And then I believe pro football full circle with Joe Lisi comes in right
00:44:51after that.
00:44:52Is that correct?
00:44:54Did I get that correct today?
00:44:55No.
00:44:56Yes.
00:44:57So,
00:44:58so first off,
00:44:59just so you know,
00:45:00a lot of times we talk college football and football full circle as well.
00:45:02That is off the air today.
00:45:04As starting at Eastern time,
00:45:06sports grids,
00:45:07bracket central for round of 64 coverage does be.
00:45:11Again,
00:45:12it will be myself and a coach,
00:45:13James Young,
00:45:14Jay.
00:45:15What,
00:45:16what are you next in studio DRS?
00:45:17When do you start your brand?
00:45:18I am covered Friday night,
00:45:19right?
00:45:20Tomorrow night,
00:45:21tomorrow,
00:45:22seven to 10.
00:45:23The boys will be there.
00:45:24The lounge will be all set up.
00:45:25We won't be at the desk.
00:45:26It'll be real comfortable.
00:45:27So get ready.
00:45:28I don't know.
00:45:29I'm just trying to will that to victory right now.
00:45:30That's what I'm doing.
00:45:31I hope you have real clean.
00:45:33Yep.
00:45:34Love.
00:45:35Yeah.
00:45:36No headsets.
00:45:37Don.
00:45:38He's got two earbuds in.
00:45:39He's feeling good.
00:45:40I love working with DRS each and every day.
00:45:41There is nothing quite like though,
00:45:43being with Donnie,
00:45:44right side in studio,
00:45:45in person for when you are watching an NCAA tournament game.
00:45:49Some of the reserve nature starts to pop off a little bit as he is
00:45:53rooting on and cheering home.
00:45:55His bets.
00:45:56It is going to be great theater with you,
00:45:58Lisi and Kev.
00:46:00The three band weave tomorrow.
00:46:02I mean,
00:46:03has Lisa even watched the college basketball this game?
00:46:05What's he been doing on that set at this point?
00:46:07So,
00:46:08you know,
00:46:09I'm going to carry the guy through.
00:46:10We'll be all right.
00:46:11We'll have a good time.
00:46:12The boys in the studio.
00:46:13I think that guy is our lead college basketball handicapper on the
00:46:16network.
00:46:17As of late,
00:46:18he is all over crypto smash diamond play under Purdue and high
00:46:23point one 52 and a half.
00:46:27I think he got,
00:46:28I think he got some Intel from a certain host on this show.
00:46:31I won't name names.
00:46:33It's me.
00:46:34All right,
00:46:35let's look at the big favorites on this Thursday in the round of 64
00:46:38and who we expect to not just win,
00:46:40of course,
00:46:41but to comfortably cover their large margin.
00:46:44We'll do that by hearing from all of you as we get ready for the
00:46:47round of 64.
00:46:48It's time now for fade.
00:46:49The public.
00:46:58A couple of the one seeds in the fold today,
00:47:00including the number one overall seed in the Auburn Tigers Houston out
00:47:04there as well.
00:47:05Taking on S I U and a couple of the,
00:47:07I you in a couple of two seeds that are a hefty favorite as well.
00:47:11St.
00:47:12John's and it's opening round matchup against Omaha,
00:47:14Tennessee,
00:47:15and it's opening round matchup against Wofford,
00:47:17who pulled off the upset in a SoCon tournament title game to be here
00:47:21in the big dance.
00:47:23Everybody that we list the RS at least in 18 and a half point favorite
00:47:27nearing 20 points.
00:47:28We even have an Auburn team.
00:47:30That's laying more than 30 against Alabama state who won in dramatic
00:47:34fashion,
00:47:35near buzzer beater on Tuesday night in Dayton,
00:47:38Ohio.
00:47:39So of those four hefty favorites on this Thursday,
00:47:42who is the best bet to actually cover a number?
00:47:45Is it Auburn 31 and a half point favorite against the Hornets?
00:47:49Is it Houston against S I U Edwardsville,
00:47:52the champions out of the Ohio Valley,
00:47:5428 and a half point spread.
00:47:56Is it the Johnny's 18 and a half point favorite against Omaha or the
00:47:59volunteers 18 and a half point favorite against the Terriers from
00:48:04Wofford?
00:48:05Most of the public DRS back in St.
00:48:08John's as an 18 and a half point favorite against the Mavericks,
00:48:11nearly 37% of the vote.
00:48:13But second,
00:48:14most that would be Houston to win comfortably against S I U E.
00:48:19Yeah.
00:48:20There's no surprise that you're looking at two teams.
00:48:22Like,
00:48:23let's just say St.
00:48:24Johnson,
00:48:25Tennessee under 20 points.
00:48:26That's where your eyes go.
00:48:27Like,
00:48:28okay,
00:48:29they can win by 20 level up in competition.
00:48:31And then you have the Mavens here.
00:48:32And when you talk about,
00:48:33they're not stepping up in competition,
00:48:35the teams they're playing are stepping up in competition,
00:48:37stepping up to see the best in the country on defense.
00:48:39That's going to be a problem.
00:48:41I vote went towards Houston at minus 28 and a half.
00:48:43And it's not the fact that it's like,
00:48:45man,
00:48:46they got to win by 30 points for you to cover.
00:48:47It's me getting the optics of,
00:48:49is there a chance that S I U E has six points with six minutes to go in
00:48:54the first half?
00:48:55Not saying that's going to be,
00:48:56that'd be crazy,
00:48:57crazy defense by Houston.
00:48:58Right.
00:48:59But my ability to watch a basketball team and say,
00:49:01can they actually score at this team?
00:49:03And what's the calling card of that said team?
00:49:05Just absolutely locking you down.
00:49:08That's why I went Houston.
00:49:09Now,
00:49:10granted the difference between Houston and St.
00:49:11John's is they're both really good teams and 10 points in margin.
00:49:14But for me,
00:49:15I can see Houston put on one of those shows.
00:49:17Like,
00:49:18is that a,
00:49:19is that like a college football score?
00:49:2037 to 12 at the half at this point,
00:49:22where one of these teams just absolutely blowing the other one out.
00:49:25That's the way I look at it.
00:49:26And that's why I went with Houston,
00:49:27but honestly,
00:49:28Auburn St.
00:49:29John's and Tennessee,
00:49:30all legitimate chances to absolutely blow the doors up their opponents.
00:49:33But I'm just looking at one of those teams that really should struggle in
00:49:36offense,
00:49:37probably S I U E there.
00:49:38Yeah.
00:49:39And Donnie,
00:49:40that's really what it comes down to.
00:49:41Brian Barone has done a great job in his sixth year,
00:49:44bringing S I U E to its first ever NCAA tournament as a D one program,
00:49:49the champions of the Ohio Valley,
00:49:51the first team to book a ticket to the big dance.
00:49:54They have been waiting for a while offensively.
00:49:57They're not all that effective.
00:49:58They're not all that efficient.
00:50:00And when you're playing the best defense of the country,
00:50:03one of the three best defenses in the country,
00:50:05it is going to be difficult to muster up that offense.
00:50:09And when you look at Houston DRS,
00:50:11they are a team that has reached the big dance seven consecutive years under
00:50:14Calvin Sampson,
00:50:15who has completely reinvigorated this program.
00:50:17The Cougs have made it at least to the sweet 16,
00:50:20five straight years last year as the one seat in the national championship
00:50:25favorite, or right around that line with Yukon,
00:50:29Houston was a one seed and they took on a team.
00:50:32Let me just make sure I have this correctly took on Longwood,
00:50:36a team in Longwood,
00:50:37who was maybe expected to give a run because they could play at an uptempo
00:50:40pace.
00:50:41Houston said, nah,
00:50:42we'll win this game by 40,
00:50:44the forest,
00:50:45the first 40 point margin in the big dance in nearly a decade.
00:50:50I looked at SIU Edwardsville team total,
00:50:52maybe leaning toward it under as well.
00:50:54It's 52 and a half,
00:50:56a little bit low for my blood,
00:50:58just because I think it's more 55 and Houston could still cover this number
00:51:02rather comfortably.
00:51:04I do think S I U E is up against it.
00:51:06That got my vote as well.
00:51:08I will say this though,
00:51:09DRS,
00:51:10as we look at these games,
00:51:11Auburn 31 and a half point favorite against Alabama state,
00:51:13the Tigers,
00:51:14of course,
00:51:15trying to erase that sour taste in their mouth.
00:51:17I bet Auburn to cover the first half against Ole Miss and their first SEC
00:51:21tourney game,
00:51:22dropping their final two regular season games.
00:51:24They did buy the hook,
00:51:26did not cover the game overall.
00:51:28I haven't looked into the first half number.
00:51:30My guess would be 17 and a half,
00:51:3118 and a half.
00:51:32How do you think Auburn comes out against Alabama state?
00:51:35Knowing the narrative that they have dropped three of their last four,
00:51:38not playing their best basketball.
00:51:39Yeah.
00:51:40I don't think there's any added incentive really.
00:51:42Cause I do hear that somebody like,
00:51:43Oh,
00:51:44they're going to be really chomping at the bit.
00:51:45They'd be chomping at the bit.
00:51:46They played like Tennessee right off the bat,
00:51:47but the fact that they understand it's going to be an easy victory.
00:51:49Just go out there,
00:51:50play good basketball,
00:51:51get out of Dodge with the victory at that point.
00:51:53But I am interested to see what Alabama state does.
00:51:56Cause we talked about,
00:51:57they don't turn the basketball over,
00:51:58which if they were just crazy and turning it over,
00:52:00who knows what that final score could be?
00:52:01I'm interested to see what that first half will be with Alabama state.
00:52:0419 and a half first half line in favor of the Tigers.
00:52:08More on the early line comes away next.
00:52:09The opening day of the big dance in full.
00:52:12It is the Thursday at the round of 64 for the 2025 men's NCAA tournament.
00:52:18And for some tourney talk and a bracket breakdown,
00:52:21we are very pleased to welcome on Jason Fitz from Yahoo sports,
00:52:24joining us live on this Thursday morning on T E L to celebrate one of the
00:52:29greatest days you will see each and every year, Jason,
00:52:32we appreciate the time.
00:52:33Thanks for being here to get us ready for the big dance on this Thursday.
00:52:37Yeah.
00:52:38I just think guys,
00:52:39let's start right out of the gate by reminding everybody.
00:52:41None of us are brilliant with the tournament.
00:52:43We're all trying our best when you are in a sports bar today and your buddy
00:52:46tells you he's on a heater.
00:52:47He's probably not.
00:52:48And it's probably going to end.
00:52:49So I'm just,
00:52:50I'm just helping everybody from three drinks in and,
00:52:53you know,
00:52:54Buffalo wild wings realizing that,
00:52:55man,
00:52:56now I'm chasing 15 things with 15 people.
00:52:57It's a bad feeling.
00:52:58Your bracket can be done.
00:53:00You can rip it up.
00:53:01You can still hit some bets.
00:53:03If your buddy's on a heater fade,
00:53:05that very next pick,
00:53:06whatever it looks like.
00:53:08So Jason,
00:53:09let's start with those national championship odds,
00:53:11the big picture outlook for the entirety of the big dance.
00:53:15I'm sure many people started to fill out their brackets this week and we're
00:53:18like,
00:53:19what am I doing?
00:53:20Ending up with all four,
00:53:21one seeds in the final four,
00:53:23which has only ever happened once in the tournament way back in 2008.
00:53:28But the top four seeds,
00:53:30as you see it,
00:53:31they're the four shortest prices to win a national championship.
00:53:35Jason,
00:53:36do you think everybody on the one line is actually capable of that
00:53:39cutting down the nets as a national title winner?
00:53:41Yes.
00:53:42But I also think that a bunch of these teams on the twos are also like,
00:53:45this is a ones and twos tournament to me.
00:53:47So as much as I do agree,
00:53:49look,
00:53:50look at the way Florida went through the sec tournament.
00:53:52I think they deserved a better seat.
00:53:53I think they deserved a higher one.
00:53:55They should have been in a bracket that wasn't murderers row out of the gate.
00:53:58So like,
00:53:59look,
00:54:00some of these teams,
00:54:01I think these ones are really poised,
00:54:02but Michigan state,
00:54:03when you look at the way that that bracket falls for them,
00:54:05there's a very real possibility in my mind that Michigan state can be playing
00:54:08for a championship.
00:54:09St.
00:54:10John's.
00:54:11I'm looking forward to St.
00:54:12John's versus Florida.
00:54:13If we get to that point,
00:54:14don't sleep on Tennessee,
00:54:15take it on Houston.
00:54:16So I think some of these two seats,
00:54:17Auburn injury issues make me a little bit more concerned,
00:54:20but I'm pretty comfortable with any of the ones of the twos.
00:54:22And that,
00:54:23that makes up most of my elite eight and final four.
00:54:25Yeah.
00:54:26Most people are looking at Jason that top four and say,
00:54:28cause Ben and I have done this dance all week long saying,
00:54:31my goodness,
00:54:32like who's going to knock these teams out.
00:54:33So the simple question for me is if we look at those top four seeds,
00:54:35Duke,
00:54:36Florida,
00:54:37Auburn,
00:54:38and Houston to you,
00:54:39which is the most vulnerable seed?
00:54:40Number one to get knocked out first.
00:54:42Yeah.
00:54:43I think Auburn just because a couple of things that are interesting on
00:54:46Auburn,
00:54:47they hit a wall at the end of the season.
00:54:48No team in men's basketball history has ever lost three of their last
00:54:51four.
00:54:52And then gone on to win the national championship.
00:54:53But part of that,
00:54:54I think is just watch those sec games.
00:54:56They started to get a little figured out and Auburn's too old for that.
00:55:00I love this metric.
00:55:01They keep showing us that Auburn's average age is about the same as
00:55:04Oklahoma city and the NBA,
00:55:05right?
00:55:06This is an old college basketball team that seems like they lost their
00:55:09legs towards the end of the season.
00:55:10Doesn't make a lot of sense as everyone says,
00:55:12well,
00:55:13it's the sec and iron sharpens iron.
00:55:14That's just what happens.
00:55:15Okay.
00:55:16Well,
00:55:17you're going to get to the spot here where you're going to have to take
00:55:18on a Michigan team,
00:55:19possibly that won the big 10.
00:55:20I think surprised a lot of people in the way they did that.
00:55:22And then again,
00:55:23a Michigan state team.
00:55:24Like I think this road for Auburn and best case scenario ends against
00:55:27Michigan state.
00:55:28Number one,
00:55:29overall seed,
00:55:30but did not get any favors at the top half of that South region,
00:55:35a Louisville team that ranks 10th in the eight people.
00:55:37And yet is on the eight line could be awaiting the tigers in the round
00:55:41of 32.
00:55:42Let's talk individual big picture as well.
00:55:45Jason Duke,
00:55:46the national championship favorites.
00:55:48So of course the best player on the title favorites is going to be the
00:55:51favorite to win the most outstanding player.
00:55:53That of course is Cooper flag.
00:55:55We expect to see him right away in the round of 64,
00:56:00as Duke will take on Mount St.
00:56:02Mary's tomorrow on a Friday afternoon,
00:56:05but let's start with Cooper flags health.
00:56:07What do you anticipate the strategy to be for John Shire when it comes
00:56:12to his best player on the floor?
00:56:14Yeah,
00:56:15I think we're going to get limited minutes in the first game and then see
00:56:17when he comes back in and how he feels.
00:56:19Guys,
00:56:20the biggest concern I have here too,
00:56:21is remember nobody touched him.
00:56:23He didn't land on anybody.
00:56:24He landed on an already taped ankle and it rolled on him.
00:56:27So now my biggest concern is when we get to this situation,
00:56:30where it's 24 hours between games,
00:56:32how's that ankle going to feel?
00:56:33That's why when you start talking about most outstanding player,
00:56:36as much as I do believe for,
00:56:37for Duke to win a national championship,
00:56:39Cooper is going to have to be Cooper flag.
00:56:41He's going to have to be everything we've seen.
00:56:43And that makes him a great candidate for most outstanding player.
00:56:45But if you look at the way Duke played when he was out and the
00:56:48effectiveness and the importance of conca nipple,
00:56:51I,
00:56:52you want to talk about a sneaky pick for a most outstanding player.
00:56:55If you believe Duke is going to win the championship and you're concerned
00:56:58about Cooper flags,
00:56:59help the health thing can Nipple becomes the name to watch to me because
00:57:02he certainly will be the person that Duke relies on.
00:57:06Yeah.
00:57:07A lot of great basketball players listed on there.
00:57:08And certainly if the championship is Duke,
00:57:10it's probably going to be Cooper flag that actually gets that.
00:57:13If he is healthy,
00:57:14same thing with you and I broom there for Auburn.
00:57:15But if we take a look at a game match up today,
00:57:17we're having some fun in Providence.
00:57:18And I know we want to get to Arkansas and Kansas.
00:57:21Kansas is the favorite at the fan blue sports book minus four and a
00:57:24half points,
00:57:25lining this game up,
00:57:26boogie flanned coming back into action here for Arkansas.
00:57:29Jason,
00:57:30how's it set up for you today between Arkansas,
00:57:31Kansas.
00:57:32So look,
00:57:33this,
00:57:34both of these teams are offensively challenged to say it politely at
00:57:37times.
00:57:38I like the under in this one because of that.
00:57:40But the other part of this is okay.
00:57:41How do you get buckets when you need buckets?
00:57:43I think the,
00:57:44the referees make a mess,
00:57:45massive difference in this game,
00:57:46because when Arkansas can't score,
00:57:47they love to get aggressive and just try and create contact to get to
00:57:50the free throw line.
00:57:51They got to the free throw line,
00:57:52the 13th,
00:57:53most in the NCAA this year.
00:57:54Right.
00:57:55So what does that mean?
00:57:56Well,
00:57:57that now all of a sudden I'm looking at how are the refs calling that
00:57:59game?
00:58:00When you know that Kansas is most important player is going to be
00:58:02standing in the middle of the lane.
00:58:03I feel like foul trouble could be a huge part of this.
00:58:06Arkansas,
00:58:07I think wins an ugly basketball game.
00:58:08That is the under because of that.
00:58:10If refs are calling this tight,
00:58:11this is going to be ugly.
00:58:12Take the under in my mind,
00:58:14take Arkansas.
00:58:15Yeah.
00:58:16Kansas has not been a great shooting team this year.
00:58:18The preseason number one might be ousted in its very first game in the
00:58:22big dance.
00:58:23All right,
00:58:24Jason Fitz,
00:58:25we have told people be skeptical of your buddy on a heater.
00:58:27It is a very long day.
00:58:28We have 13 consecutive hours of college basketball,
00:58:32but if you were to text the group chat and tell your buddies were best
00:58:35bet for round of 64 Thursday,
00:58:38what game would it be?
00:58:39And what is that wager?
00:58:40Oh man,
00:58:41best man.
00:58:44The games look,
00:58:45we're taking out the heavy favorites.
00:58:47I'm looking at it here.
00:58:48Let me,
00:58:49let me see the best bet of all of these guys.
00:58:52I'm so nervous about this.
00:58:53Michigan,
00:58:54Michigan is the best bet.
00:58:55Michigan was under seated at five.
00:58:57They should have been a three.
00:58:58I'll put some tasty money on Michigan in that one.
00:59:01And by the way,
00:59:02I think Michigan has the chance to go in all the way into the elite
00:59:05eight.
00:59:06I think Michigan can actually take down Auburn.
00:59:07Jason Fitz.
00:59:08I'll tell you this.
00:59:09I know your buddy is on UC San Diego because everybody seems to be
00:59:14picking the 12 over the five in Jason Fitz from Yahoo sports.
00:59:18Joining us here on this round of 64 Thursday,
00:59:20Jason,
00:59:21thank you so much.
00:59:22And we appreciate the time plenty more on the early line on sports
00:59:25grid.
00:59:26Now it is time to truly get you ready for the big guys.
00:59:31As we make sense of the madness and we paint the path through a
00:59:36bracket as we do here on the early line.
00:59:39What is one of our staples?
00:59:41It is not the tummy.
00:59:42It's the pitch six for the 2025 men's NCAA tournament for the mind
00:59:47of Donnie,
00:59:48right side and my noggin as well,
00:59:51a national championship pick who will lose to them in that national
00:59:55title game.
00:59:5619 days from now on a Monday night,
00:59:58April 7th in San Antonio,
01:00:00Texas,
01:00:01thus the most outstanding player coming from that national title
01:00:04winner,
01:00:05a Cinderella team that could win a couple of games,
01:00:09not expected to in the NCAA tournament.
01:00:12One of the specials available on the fan dual sports book with a
01:00:15sprinkle of plus money and a round one best bet for this round of
01:00:1964 Thursday live right here on the early line,
01:00:25the IRS.
01:00:26What did you make that noise for?
01:00:27Was there something I said,
01:00:28or are you just really excited?
01:00:29I don't know.
01:00:30You made a noise.
01:00:31Hey,
01:00:32I got,
01:00:33Hey,
01:00:34Oh,
01:00:35I don't know.
01:00:36Really?
01:00:37Yeah.
01:00:38Yo Adrian.
01:00:39I mean,
01:00:40I don't know.
01:00:41What are we doing?
01:00:42You know,
01:00:43sometimes you got to yell it out the window.
01:00:44Yeah,
01:00:45that is very,
01:00:46very good.
01:00:47All right,
01:00:48DRS.
01:00:49Let's start at the very top.
01:00:50It is 19 days.
01:00:51It is 63 games in total.
01:00:52It is that a tournament trying to be at your best.
01:00:55If you are going to be the best to cut down the nets for six nights
01:00:59in late March into early April,
01:01:02Who do you think will do just that as a national champion this year in
01:01:06men's college basketball?
01:01:07I'm trusting the Duke blue devils.
01:01:09And of course,
01:01:10like,
01:01:11well,
01:01:12why are you trusting?
01:01:13Well,
01:01:14yeah,
01:01:15they're the favorites actually win it.
01:01:16So how much trust do we have to actually put in it?
01:01:17But also the price point,
01:01:18not fantastic,
01:01:19but if they are going to win,
01:01:20Hey,
01:01:21the price point,
01:01:22it is what it is.
01:01:23It's going to cash because I look at the Duke blue devils during the
01:01:25regular season and say,
01:01:26yes,
01:01:27one of the best teams here and flag goes down and they still had enough
01:01:29Moxie to win the game.
01:01:30He went down when the following game and then when the ACC championship
01:01:34game,
01:01:35and then get Cooper flag backs,
01:01:36you've got enough.
01:01:37A lot of the players to shine outside the absence of their best player.
01:01:41There was a calming influence here.
01:01:43Don't panic.
01:01:44We're when this will be just fine.
01:01:45That's exactly what happened.
01:01:46And also taking the seating here.
01:01:48You'd look for me,
01:01:49obviously going to win game.
01:01:50Number one against Mount St.
01:01:51Mary's.
01:01:52I think they're going to beat Baylor and or Mississippi state.
01:01:54And then I have them lining up against Arizona who they will get a punch
01:01:57from an athletic team,
01:01:58but I think they're better.
01:01:59And then Alabama in the elite eight is really the first elite competition
01:02:03that they're going to face.
01:02:04So in order to win a national championship,
01:02:07you got to get to the final four and the final.
01:02:09I just like the way it sets up for the Duke blue devils here.
01:02:12And for me,
01:02:13it's well,
01:02:14Donnie's picking the favorite in the competition.
01:02:15Why?
01:02:16If I think to the best team price,
01:02:17not withstanding,
01:02:18that's who I picked here.
01:02:19And that's where I went with the Duke blue devils,
01:02:21cutting it down.
01:02:22The RS,
01:02:23as we have said many times,
01:02:25you have,
01:02:26I,
01:02:27you and I have examined this bracket.
01:02:28The past to get to an elite eight,
01:02:30to get to a final four in San Antonio.
01:02:32And it does feel chalky at times because we have so many elite teams on the
01:02:37one line.
01:02:38You see it represented in the national championship odds.
01:02:40Everybody.
01:02:41That is a one seed six to one or shorter.
01:02:44Everybody else,
01:02:46triple those numbers at on a buck.
01:02:48It's where you get to Alabama,
01:02:49the shortest team as a two seat in this tournament.
01:02:53And I do believe it bears repeating because maybe you are crystallizing and
01:02:57finalizing your bracket right now.
01:02:59Maybe you filled it out on Tuesday night or yesterday,
01:03:02and you felt a little bit chalky.
01:03:04You felt a little bit scared because you had so many one seeds into the final
01:03:08four.
01:03:09Maybe you had all four,
01:03:10which has only happened once in the history of the big dance way back in
01:03:142008.
01:03:16But everybody on the one line has a Ken Palm net rating of plus 35 or
01:03:22better.
01:03:23What does that mean?
01:03:24Well,
01:03:25the really,
01:03:26we have seen three teams in total in the last 20 years,
01:03:30three teams over a 20 year span in total,
01:03:33have a net rating of plus 35 or better.
01:03:36We've got four teams in this single year,
01:03:39all on the one line.
01:03:41So there does give some credence to the idea that yes,
01:03:45it is chalky.
01:03:46And yes,
01:03:47we have rarely ever seen it,
01:03:48but if ever there were a big dance for it,
01:03:51it might be right now,
01:03:53which leads me to my national championship pick on the opposite end of the
01:03:58bracket.
01:03:59Donnie will have this team taken on the blue devils inside the Alamo dome.
01:04:03I have this team winning it,
01:04:05Florida at a plus three 60 price to win the NCAA tournament.
01:04:10I believe the Gators have shown you at various different spots this year.
01:04:14They are the best team in college basketball.
01:04:16They have maybe the best pair of wins this year in college hoops,
01:04:19a road win in Tuscaloosa,
01:04:21a road win on the planes in Auburn.
01:04:24I bet Florida in early February at an 11 to one number.
01:04:28I love where things stand right now.
01:04:31It is a highly competitive West region.
01:04:33I think it is the toughest draw of any of our one seeds.
01:04:37I just think Florida is the toughest team to get out of the big dance.
01:04:41Florida cuts down the nets.
01:04:43We continue to go to the big six.
01:04:45Next,
01:04:46the big dance officially underway in full on this Thursday.
01:04:50It is the round of 64 at the 2025 men's NCAA tournament.
01:04:56And as we continue to get you ready and try to make sense of all the madness
01:05:00that we see,
01:05:01not only the action that we have previewed all 16 games here on this show,
01:05:05but how we see the tournament playing out,
01:05:07what our brackets look like and what the wagers will be every step of the
01:05:12way. Donnie,
01:05:13our national champions,
01:05:14we believe we'll play in that national title game in San Antonio.
01:05:18I've got Florida winning it all.
01:05:20You have Duke knocking off the Gators.
01:05:23Why are you confident Florida emerges out of the West region and to that
01:05:27national title game?
01:05:28Just how really good they have been specifically over the second half of the
01:05:32season and playing in the toughest conference in basketball and handling their
01:05:36business,
01:05:37getting some of the biggest wins of the season on their resume,
01:05:39which means they're battle tested and they need to be battle tested.
01:05:42You take a look at that West bracket game.
01:05:44Number two,
01:05:45they should still win obviously because of the highest seed in the better team
01:05:48over Connecticut and,
01:05:49or let's just say Oklahoma.
01:05:50But after that,
01:05:51you're taking a look at for me,
01:05:52like playing the crab five of Maryland.
01:05:54That's a really good ball club here that you're going to get.
01:05:56Then if you advance,
01:05:57let's just say it's St.
01:05:58John's and or Texas tech at that point,
01:06:00that's another elite victory before you even get to the final four.
01:06:04So maybe those legs in the sec sharpening those nights all year long,
01:06:09you've got to have a lot of detriments there,
01:06:11but I still think they have the talent to get to the final and certainly win
01:06:14the final.
01:06:15But I took Duke in that final in a close game by four points.
01:06:18I just think Duke's the better overall team,
01:06:20but Florida would be no surprise for me.
01:06:22And rightfully so.
01:06:23And the absolute numbers that we're looking at,
01:06:25the fan blue sports book for them to win it are quite low.
01:06:27Florida and Duke just make a lot of sense to heavyweights making their way
01:06:31through.
01:06:32And what a final,
01:06:33if it meets up and goes that way,
01:06:34it would be.
01:06:36Two of the shortest national championship prices right now.
01:06:39But again,
01:06:40DRS,
01:06:41it is hard to fault.
01:06:42I think about how historically good the top of the NCAA tournament field is
01:06:46the cream rises to the top in the big dance.
01:06:4913 of the last 17 national champions have been a one seat four of the last
01:06:54five,
01:06:55a one seat.
01:06:56The only team in the last five years that was not was Connecticut as a
01:06:59four seed.
01:07:00Now,
01:07:01two years ago.
01:07:03And Donnie,
01:07:04when you really think about how the madness plays out,
01:07:07it does really track.
01:07:08There are also some trends outside of that,
01:07:11in terms of just being on the one line and how historically good this year's
01:07:15crop of one seeds is that really carries over that favors both Duke and
01:07:20Florida.
01:07:21I mentioned my Gators price at 11 to one to win the national championship
01:07:24bet.
01:07:25Back in February.
01:07:26I also have a small sprinkle on a Duke number at the time of a four to
01:07:30one price because 19 of the last 20 national title winners,
01:07:36top 25 adjusted offensive efficiency on Ken Palm,
01:07:3916 of the last 20 top 25 adjusted defensive efficiency,
01:07:4320 of the last 20.
01:07:45Yeah.
01:07:46Every single one has been ranked inside the top 12 of the week.
01:07:50Six,
01:07:51eight people,
01:07:52five teams enter the big dance,
01:07:54hitting all of those qualifications.
01:07:56Our two national championship picks in Duke in Florida,
01:08:00Auburn,
01:08:01Iowa state in Tennessee,
01:08:04the group of five.
01:08:05So keep an eye on those numbers,
01:08:07the IRS.
01:08:08I have Duke in my final four.
01:08:10It pains me to say that as such,
01:08:13but I have Houston with the veteran presence,
01:08:15commanding the defensive end of the floor,
01:08:17beating Duke in San Antonio playing Florida in the national championship
01:08:21game,
01:08:22but the Gators offense defense and pace a little bit too much for the
01:08:26Cougs.
01:08:27If you have Duke winning a national championship,
01:08:29who is the most outstanding player in your mind?
01:08:31Yeah,
01:08:32going to be simple.
01:08:33And also,
01:08:34you know,
01:08:35if Duke is going to make it that far to play Houston,
01:08:36that probably means Cooper flags really healthy and ready to go in that
01:08:39game,
01:08:40which would be a great sign for the Duke blue devils,
01:08:41which means if I have Duke winning the national championship,
01:08:44that means he probably played really well against Houston and really well
01:08:48against Florida.
01:08:49And he cuts down the mats along with Duke at a plus three 70 price as the
01:08:52MOP.
01:08:53It's just a strictly a correlation.
01:08:54Is it one like,
01:08:55Hey,
01:08:56Don,
01:08:57I want to take con Canippal to actually do that.
01:08:58I mean,
01:08:59look,
01:09:00if the point man is going to be con Canippal and not Cooper flag,
01:09:03that means Cooper flags,
01:09:04probably a little bit injured,
01:09:05which means Duke might not be as effective as they would be with a
01:09:08completely healthy Cooper flag.
01:09:09I'm betting on the opposite.
01:09:10Duke's going to be good.
01:09:11So as Cooper flag,
01:09:12they win it.
01:09:13He gets it.
01:09:14Yeah.
01:09:15DRS.
01:09:16It's a great thought.
01:09:17It's a natural thought,
01:09:18right?
01:09:19But I also do believe it presents you a little bit of a better price at
01:09:20plus three 64 Cooper flag to win most outstanding player.
01:09:24Can you win the NCAA tournament?
01:09:26If Cooper flag is not your most outstanding player,
01:09:29even if he's healthy,
01:09:30perhaps because it really comes down to just the final four.
01:09:33If Cooper flag is great in a final four game.
01:09:36And so is con Canippal,
01:09:38but con Canippal has a slightly better national championship game.
01:09:41Could it go to Canippal?
01:09:42Maybe,
01:09:43right?
01:09:44But it makes sense from that natural correlation to have the best player
01:09:47on the national championship winning team winning MOP.
01:09:51For instance,
01:09:52last year,
01:09:53Tristan Newton won the award for Connecticut,
01:09:55their Swiss army knife.
01:09:56He wasn't the lottery pick.
01:09:57That was Steph Castle.
01:09:58That was Donovan clinging.
01:10:00It could be somebody else more than likely.
01:10:03It is going to be that star player.
01:10:04So it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Donovan to pick Duke and tell you
01:10:08somebody from Alabama.
01:10:09It wouldn't make a lot of sense for me to pick Florida and tell you
01:10:12somebody from St.
01:10:13John's Walter Clayton jr.
01:10:15Is my pick to win MOP.
01:10:17He is Florida's best player.
01:10:19He is the guy that does it all in the backcourt and winning guard play
01:10:22wins in the month of March into early April.
01:10:25There's a lot of great players.
01:10:26Well,
01:10:27Richard is fantastic.
01:10:28Alex Condon,
01:10:29the six 11 Aussie who can do it all.
01:10:31Great for Todd Golden's Gators.
01:10:33If they're going to win a national championship to me,
01:10:36it is Walter Clayton jr.
01:10:37I do want to make this final point though.
01:10:39DOS about those MLP odds.
01:10:41Again,
01:10:42it is just the final four.
01:10:43It's not a guy that led his team to the elite eight and had a sensational
01:10:46tournament scoring 35 plus in every game.
01:10:49That won't matter.
01:10:51We'll remember him as a March legend,
01:10:53but that won't matter to cashing a ticket in winning this wager.
01:10:57So I will just say if there is a team that you think gets to the final
01:11:01four,
01:11:02if there is a team,
01:11:03perhaps you have a higher Outlook on than most.
01:11:07It would also make sense to look at their best individual to look at their
01:11:11best player because you really can't find some juicy plus money sprinkles
01:11:15in the most outstanding player numbers.
01:11:17Yeah,
01:11:18exactly.
01:11:19And that's what you're trying to level.
01:11:20And the worst beat you could possibly have is picking Houston Cougars to win
01:11:24the national championship.
01:11:25And then going like,
01:11:26Oh,
01:11:27well,
01:11:28I picked the wrong player who stepped up at the right time in the final
01:11:30four.
01:11:31It's the same thing.
01:11:32When you talk about the Duke Blue Devils,
01:11:33like,
01:11:34yeah,
01:11:35the price point is a little bit better,
01:11:36but my goodness,
01:11:37it can nipple wins at you.
01:11:38Like,
01:11:39what did I do?
01:11:40Like I knew Duke was going to win.
01:11:41Why didn't you just take that here?
01:11:42But there are some other chances like way down.
01:11:43We talked about Mark Sears and the Alabama Crimson Tide,
01:11:45where you're getting an unbelievable price point at that point.
01:11:47So some things are there to factor in at this point.
01:11:49Don't overly confuse yourself.
01:11:50Best player in the best team is typically going to win this.
01:11:52Even if they really weren't the best team in the final four and or the
01:11:56championship game,
01:11:57as long as they were close,
01:11:58you always get the benefit of the doubt with the best player too.
01:12:01For sure.
01:12:02DRS like St.
01:12:03John's,
01:12:04for instance,
01:12:05a 29 to one price to win a national championship.
01:12:07That is value in itself because they are the two seed in the west region.
01:12:11And they're at a 29 to one number again,
01:12:13speaking to the strength of those four teams on the one line,
01:12:16but RJ Lewis,
01:12:17Jr.
01:12:18The big East player of the year.
01:12:19And maybe the Johnny's most important,
01:12:21although you could argue that's good.
01:12:22Ari Richmond is 75 to one,
01:12:24even in explaining that it kind of makes sense just to bat the Johnny's
01:12:27there at a 29 to one number.
01:12:30One of the great things about this tournament defined by its chaos is the
01:12:34Cinderella runs.
01:12:35It allows three of the last six years,
01:12:38the RS and 11 seed has made the final four.
01:12:40So I am very proud of both of us picking our Cinderella on the 11 line.
01:12:45You first,
01:12:46my friend.
01:12:47Yep.
01:12:48Going 11.
01:12:49And the definition for me,
01:12:50for Cinderella is not actually making it all the way to the final four.
01:12:52It's winning two games here as a double digit seed,
01:12:54which means you're going to be upsetting teams.
01:12:56VCU has a legitimate chance to beat a quality BYU team.
01:12:59They win that,
01:13:00you know,
01:13:01they take on next another really good team in Wisconsin with styles,
01:13:04make fights.
01:13:05And VCU fits like a glove with both of these teams.
01:13:07Now they're not as talented as either one of these teams,
01:13:09but I think the matchup makes sense.
01:13:10And that's what a Cinderella is.
01:13:12Matchups make sense.
01:13:13They're not as talented here.
01:13:14The little engine that could VCU should be able to beat.
01:13:17To win two games.
01:13:18They qualify for me as my Cinderella team here.
01:13:21And the Cinderella story starts today.
01:13:23Come on,
01:13:24VCU.
01:13:25Don't let your boy down.
01:13:26Don't let me down.
01:13:27Completely agree DRS.
01:13:28And it doesn't have to be a Cinderella long shot at a 301 price to win a
01:13:32national championship.
01:13:33If in your bracket,
01:13:34you have VCU to the sweet 16,
01:13:36that's a two leg money line parlay or a plus three 40 price on the fan
01:13:41dual sports book.
01:13:42You can find those sweet plus 20 numbers,
01:13:44even just to get to the second weekend.
01:13:46Mine's on the opposite end of the bracket in the West region.
01:13:50That would be the Drake bulldogs,
01:13:52a plus nine 60 price now to reach the sweet 16,
01:13:55a difficult draw for Drake.
01:13:57That starts today with a game that is receiving a ton of public
01:14:01attention.
01:14:02We'll continue to break down the bracket.
01:14:05Our Cinderella runs throughout the 2025 men's NCAA tournament,
01:14:09both Donnie right side and myself looking at a team as an 11 seed that can
01:14:14at least win a couple of games and get to the second weekend.
01:14:17Donnie likes VCU,
01:14:18a very talented team,
01:14:20the champions of the eight,
01:14:2110 in the East region,
01:14:23Donnie,
01:14:24the two matchups that would be in the Rams way starting on this Thursday
01:14:27against BYU.
01:14:28And then more than likely Wisconsin.
01:14:30If the Badgers can get by Montana,
01:14:32really favor the Rams.
01:14:34And we have talked a lot about the three point shooting for both VCU,
01:14:37BYU,
01:14:38and let's add in the Badgers into this mix.
01:14:41The one thing Wisconsin's good on the defensive end,
01:14:43BYU,
01:14:44not great.
01:14:45VCU is the best defense in limiting effective field goal percentage for its
01:14:49opponents.
01:14:50They're shooting worse than 45% this year.
01:14:52That is the best nationally.
01:14:54The Rams are a really well coached team led by Ryan Odom,
01:14:57their head coach that understands the madness.
01:14:59He was the head man at UMBC when of course they knocked off Virginia,
01:15:04the first ever 16 seed upset a one back in 2018.
01:15:09My Cinderella pick is Drake Donnie months ago.
01:15:13I fell in love with Ben McCollum and everything he brought to Des Moines from
01:15:16Northwest Missouri state.
01:15:18A lot of his team intact,
01:15:19including NBC player of the year out of the Missouri Valley.
01:15:23That is Bennett starts.
01:15:25I believe in this great team.
01:15:26I believe in their style of play.
01:15:28Yes,
01:15:29it is slow.
01:15:30I'll describe it as selective.
01:15:31They are still very efficient on the offensive side of the floor and they
01:15:35grind you out defensively.
01:15:37Nothing comes easy against Ben McCollum's bulldog.
01:15:41So if you would have asked me two months ago,
01:15:43who's your Cinderella team,
01:15:44Drake a month ago,
01:15:45Drake,
01:15:46after they won the NBC for a third straight year,
01:15:48Drake,
01:15:49and then everybody started to love Drake six and a half point dog today
01:15:54against Missouri 79,
01:15:56Donnie 79% of the bets on the spread on the bulldogs.
01:16:0076% of the money on Drake.
01:16:03Is it foolish of me to now be spooked by my own Cinderella pick that I have
01:16:08been in love with for the last three,
01:16:10four months in this college basketball season,
01:16:13just because everybody is not only used to spook by that.
01:16:17It's just like who they play.
01:16:18Like you're going to get it a big time.
01:16:20So to get out of a real efficient team right out of the gate in Missouri,
01:16:23which would be an epic win.
01:16:24And then your prize is probably going to be Texas tech.
01:16:27One of my favorite teams throughout this entire tournament.
01:16:29So you want to talk about they are a true Cinderella.
01:16:32You knock down Missouri and Texas tech.
01:16:34I don't even know if I can call you Cinderella.
01:16:36I'm just going to call you a damn good basketball team at that point.
01:16:39Like that was unbelievable.
01:16:41The thought process.
01:16:42So I'm interested to see how they come out because game.
01:16:44Number one is going to tell you a lot.
01:16:46Can we be efficient as we need to be against a team?
01:16:48That's really efficient and more talented from a bigger conference.
01:16:51They're not going to catch up on anybody this year.
01:16:53If you knock off Missouri,
01:16:54you are going to have Texas tech's eyes right away saying,
01:16:58Hey, we can't do the same thing.
01:16:59Say, oh, we expected to get Missouri here as Texas tech.
01:17:02Now we got Drake.
01:17:03Ooh, that's an easy one here.
01:17:04You're not going to get that here.
01:17:05If Drake is going to be a Cinderella, my goodness,
01:17:08they are really going to have to earn it.
01:17:10735 PM tonight in Wichita, Kansas.
01:17:14There are going to be many of fans from Des Moines that have made the trip.
01:17:17And of course from Columbia, Missouri as well.
01:17:20All right.
01:17:21A special on the fan dual sports book,
01:17:23or just one that Donnie wants to combine.
01:17:26What is this?
01:17:27737.
01:17:28That's a joke from our producer, Joe Friezel.
01:17:31Combining, but as you can,
01:17:33a parlay for teams to make a deep run in the big dance.
01:17:37DRS, who are you targeting?
01:17:39Yeah, you can parlay these, you can get down,
01:17:41but if you're just looking for plus men on each side,
01:17:43I focused on these teams weeks ago and I got to somehow put some money
01:17:47behind what I'm talking about.
01:17:49And that's Iowa State University and Texas Tech University,
01:17:53both to make it into the elite eight.
01:17:55And he said, well, Donnie,
01:17:56you're talking about them a couple of weeks ago just to take them to win
01:17:58the national championship.
01:17:59The number one teams are so darn strong in this tournament where it's like,
01:18:02yes, that's a great price,
01:18:03but let's be realistic about some things and how you're going to be able to
01:18:06cut down the nets.
01:18:07Like I'm not going to get a 25 to one price like I did on Sonogo and the
01:18:10Yukon boys absolutely ripping through.
01:18:12It was like, oh my goodness, where did you get that price point?
01:18:14It was fantastic.
01:18:15A day before the tournament.
01:18:16I want to make some money in this tournament.
01:18:18I think it makes some sense.
01:18:19These two teams are good enough to get to the elite eight.
01:18:22And then you meet up against the big boys,
01:18:25the heavyweights and the hammers and whatever they do at that point is all
01:18:28positive because why you already cashed that ticket.
01:18:31It's not winning the elite eight to get to the final four.
01:18:33Just get me to the elite eight.
01:18:34I think both of these teams have a great opportunity and clear pathways to do
01:18:38that. I'll take them.
01:18:40The West regional final.
01:18:41That would be for Texas tech,
01:18:43maybe against the one seed in Florida,
01:18:45the South regional final for Iowa state.
01:18:47The very first bet I made in this college basketball season on opening
01:18:50night, November 4th, Iowa state at a 35,
01:18:53one number.
01:18:54That's actually probably too long,
01:18:55whatever the number was on the cyclones to reach the final four.
01:18:58I still feel very,
01:18:59very good about it,
01:19:01but some of the injuries,
01:19:02namely the key,
01:19:03Sean Gilbert had me a little bit spooked.
01:19:05Iowa state,
01:19:06still part of that criteria.
01:19:08Donnie,
01:19:09we talked about top 25 offensive efficiency,
01:19:11top 25 defensive efficiency,
01:19:14and ranked in the top 12 of the week,
01:19:16six AP poll,
01:19:17my special that you can combine together on the fan dual sports book Duke to
01:19:21reach the final four.
01:19:23I do believe the blue devils will be in San Antonio.
01:19:25And I think Michigan state is an elite eight team.
01:19:28In fact,
01:19:29in a few brackets,
01:19:30I think MSU pulls off the upset over Auburn.
01:19:33I really believe in this sport and side led by Tom Izzo.
01:19:37I think Michigan state's bottom half of the South region in what could be
01:19:41that sweet 16,
01:19:42a fair DRS against Iowa state sets up well for Michigan state.
01:19:46The question has been,
01:19:47Oh,
01:19:48what if MSU doesn't shoot?
01:19:49Well,
01:19:50Oh,
01:19:51they're not a great three point shooting team.
01:19:52What if they go cold?
01:19:53It's not like they have been great up until February.
01:19:57And all of a sudden they have started missing shots.
01:19:59It has been the story for the Spartans all year long.
01:20:02And I think Michigan state is an elite eight team Duke in the final four as
01:20:07well.
01:20:08All right,
01:20:09DRS,
01:20:10before we send you off to the money line,
01:20:12before we get ready for the round of 64,
01:20:14tipping in just about an hour and a half,
01:20:17what is your best round of 64 bet for this Thursday?
01:20:21You know,
01:20:22we're not laying the points.
01:20:23We're giving our best bets here in the tournament,
01:20:25take the points and pray.
01:20:27I don't think we have to pray all that much today,
01:20:28or that's your plane to boogie flan to having a big time game.
01:20:31Arkansas and Kansas,
01:20:32I think will be spectacular to really good coaches,
01:20:34two really good programs coming in.
01:20:36I just think Arkansas playing better down the stretch.
01:20:38Kansas has been a disappointment.
01:20:39And the best part about this,
01:20:41I don't even have to win the game outright to win my bet,
01:20:44getting five and a half points with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
01:20:46I think they'll keep it close.
01:20:48I think it'll be a hard fought game,
01:20:49a legitimate chance for Arkansas to pull up the upset.
01:20:51Absolutely.
01:20:52In my bracket,
01:20:53I actually have Arkansas winning this,
01:20:54but just keep me within five points or less,
01:20:56which I think they can do in a hard fought victory in the Arkansas today.
01:20:59Let's go.
01:21:00Yeah.
01:21:01DRS.
01:21:02I love the look boogie flan being back for the first time since mid
01:21:04January is key for Cal and Arkansas.
01:21:07I'll give you my best bet on the other side of the break for the round
01:21:10of 64,
01:21:11but take the points and pray.
01:21:12We're going to be playing the bulldogs.
01:21:14If Yale can defend the offensive glass,
01:21:16the RS enjoy my friend.
01:21:18We'll talk tomorrow.
01:21:19We are just over an hour away from the start in full of the 2025
01:21:26big dance,
01:21:27the men's NCAA tournament.
01:21:29It is round of 64.
01:21:32Thursday,
01:21:33and we get you ready for everything.
01:21:34All 16 games that you will see over the next 13 or so consecutive
01:21:37hours of March madness,
01:21:38college basketball action.
01:21:39We have previewed for you.
01:21:40We have shown you the odds.
01:21:41We have broken down the game.
01:21:42We have maybe even given you a side.
01:21:43We agree with,
01:21:44we have painted the path through a madness and through a bracket region
01:21:47by region.
01:21:48We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:49We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:50We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:51We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:52We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:53We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:54We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:55We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:56We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:57We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:58We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:21:59We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:00We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:01We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:02We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:03We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:04We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:05We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:06We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:07We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:08We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:09We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:10We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:11We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:12We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:13We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:14We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:15We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:16We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:17We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:19We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:20We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:21We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:22We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:23We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:24We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:25We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:26We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:27We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:28We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:29We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:30We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:31We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:32We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:33We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:34We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:35We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:36We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:37We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:38We are going to play the bulldogs.
01:22:39And let's get ready for the two greatest days each and every year on the sports calendar.
01:22:44Let's also get you ready for a round of 64 best bet.
01:22:48DRS is back in the hogs.
01:22:50Woo, pig, suey.
01:22:51John Calipari and Arkansas tonight in a big matchup against Kansas, that game in Providence.
01:22:57The Razorbacks, a four and a half point dog.
01:22:59Now, he likes them getting five and a half where that number opened up.
01:23:03I will also go with an underdog.
01:23:06Ten of the last 14 NCAA tournaments, we have seen a 13 seed upset a four outright in the first round.
01:23:13That includes 2024 when the Yale Bulldogs, the champions out of the Ivy League as a 13 seed,
01:23:20faced off against a four seed hailing from the SEC.
01:23:23Then it was Auburn.
01:23:25Yale won outright.
01:23:26This year, Yale is once again the champions of the Ivy.
01:23:30A 13 seed facing off a four seed hailing from the Southeastern Conference.
01:23:35That is Texas A&M.
01:23:37I'm very skeptical of this Aggies team.
01:23:40When you look at the numbers, there is nothing that A&M does all that well offensively,
01:23:45except rebound the crap out of the basketball.
01:23:49They are ferocious, they are tenacious, and they attack the offensive glass.
01:23:53They are the best offensive rebounding team in college hoops.
01:23:58So that is priority number one for James Jones and his Yale team today.
01:24:04But Yale is really good at defending the glass as well.
01:24:08Yale has three all Ivy League players.
01:24:10Nick Townsend in the front court.
01:24:13Bez Embeng in the back court.
01:24:15And maybe a guy you remember from last year's stunning upset over the Tigers,
01:24:19John Pulikides, who can shoot the three with the best of them.
01:24:23Yale will let you take the three.
01:24:25A&M doesn't care.
01:24:26They don't really like to shoot it.
01:24:28Nor when they do hoist from deep, do they do so all that well.
01:24:32Yale does not necessarily rely on the three-point shot,
01:24:35but at 38.5%, the Yale Bulldogs are the ninth best three-point shooting team in the country.
01:24:41And often in these games, when you are trying to make history,
01:24:45when you are trying to start your Cinderella run,
01:24:47when you are trying to spoil and play upset,
01:24:51you do so with the three ball being the great equalizer.
01:24:54Give me Yale plus seven and a half to keep things close today against Texas A&M.
01:24:59That is my opening round of 64 Thursday best bet.
01:25:03But believe me, we've got a lot on the docket.
01:25:05We have many tickets to break down for you.
01:25:08And we will do that here, by the way, on SportsGrid starting at noon Eastern time.
01:25:13Our bracket central coverage, myself and the coach, James Young, J.Y.
01:25:18Noon to 3 p.m. Eastern time for the early window of games
01:25:21as our first full day in the round of 64 truly does begin.
01:25:27Let's talk a couple of other things before we get out of here,
01:25:30maybe even some fun that you can have on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
01:25:34How about betting the team nicknames to win an NCAA tournament?
01:25:39Yeah, we like to have a little fun here,
01:25:41courtesy of our Canadian friends up from the great white north.
01:25:45If you want a team that is a cat, I believe that includes the Tigers as well,
01:25:50a two-to-one price.
01:25:51Mythology, Devils, a plus 280 number.
01:25:55That's also Duke's price to win a national championship as the Blue Devils.
01:25:59If we had Central Connecticut, that might be a little bit better.
01:26:02A reptile, the Gators, plus 320.
01:26:05People, Fighters, plus 650.
01:26:07Historical moment, Miscellaneous, at 12-to-1.
01:26:11My producer, Joe Frizzo, did we get clarification on weather at 31-to-1?
01:26:16Because the Red Storm would certainly be weather,
01:26:19and that's a pretty good price.
01:26:21Or is it Mythology, a storm brewing out of the Big Apple, led by Rick Pitino?
01:26:27We are going to have a great time.
01:26:29It's all the fun that you can have in the NCAA tournament.
01:26:32We will recap everything from our opening Thursday in the round of 64
01:26:36on a Friday here on The Early Line.
01:26:39But SportsGrid's Bracket Central in the Big Dance
01:26:42starts at noon Eastern time here on the SysGrids Network.
01:26:46Join us next.