Tag: final four picks

NCAA Tournament Expert Picks: Final Four Predictions

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for Final Four games: Gonzaga vs UCLA, Baylor vs Houston.

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for Final Four games: Gonzaga vs UCLA, Baylor vs Houston.

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– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

NCAA Tournament Final Four, April 3

(1) Baylor vs (2) Houston

5:14 pm ET, CBS
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Line: Baylor -5, o/u: 135

Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Baylor
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Baylor
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Baylor
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Houston
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Baylor
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire Baylor
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Baylor*
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: Baylor
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Houston
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Baylor
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Houston
CONSENSUS PICK: Baylor

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(1) Gonzaga vs (11) UCLA

8:34 pm ET, CBS
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Line: Gonzaga -14, o/u: 145.5

Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Gonzaga
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Gonzaga
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Gonzaga
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Gonzaga
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Gonzaga
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire Gonzaga
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Gonzaga
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: Gonzaga
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Gonzaga
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Gonzaga
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: UCLA
CONSENSUS PICK: Baylor

Results So Far

Straight Up

Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: 42-21
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: 41-22
CONSENSUS PICK: 41-22
Pete Fiutak, CFN: 40-23
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: 39-24
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire 38-25
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: 37-26
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: 37-26
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: 35-28
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: 34-29
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: 34-29
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: 26-37

Against The Spread

Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: 40-22-1
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: 35-27-1
CONSENSUS PICK: 33-29-1
Pete Fiutak, CFN: 33-29-1
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: 33-29-1
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: 31-31-1
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire 30-32-1
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: 30-32-1
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: 29-33-1
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: 29-33-1
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: 27-35-1
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: 27-35-1

– Oops & Helmets: 25 Worst Football & Basketball Schools 2020-2021

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UCLA vs Gonzaga Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament Final Four

NCAA Tournament Final Four: (11) UCLA (22-9) vs (1) Gonzaga (30-0) prediction and college basketball game preview.

NCAA Tournament Final Four: (11) UCLA (22-9) vs (1) Gonzaga (30-0) prediction and college basketball game preview.

UCLA vs Gonzaga Broadcast

Date: Saturday, April 3
Game Time: 8:34 pm ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: CBS

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

UCLA vs Gonzaga Game Preview

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Why Gonzaga Will Win

Devastating.

USC had the exact right type of team to give Gonzaga problems – the length, the experience, the defense, the style – and it didn’t matter a lick.

The Bulldogs got up fast, rolled to an 85-66 win that wasn’t even that close, and the steady dominance that made this season so amazing continued into the Final Four.

USC supposedly had the inside presence to be a defensive problem – Drew Timme scored 23.

USC supposedly had the ability to hang around on the boards – Gonzaga won the rebounding margin by 12.

There’s no panic in this Gonzaga team, it can manufacture points inside and out, and it doesn’t have any one flaw to exploit. Few teams move the ball around better and more efficiently, few teams are able to lock down as well defensively inside and out, and few teams are better at scoring in a hurry in transition off the steal.

Either Gonzaga has to beat itself with the type of performance it hadn’t shown all year, or else UCLA has to show off an even greater defensive performance than it showed against Michigan.

Gonzaga isn’t going to make just 39% of its shots and it’s not going to be held scoreless from the field over the last five minutes.

Why UCLA Will Win

Defense, defense, defense.

UCLA was struggling a bit defensively coming into the tournament, but it was able to crank the intensity up to a whole other level when it absolutely had to.

In overtime against Alabama, the D triggered the big run from the O. Late against Michigan, it held firm over the final few minutes – and, okay, it caught a few nice breaks from missed Wolverine shots, too.

It’s going to take a perfect game pitched by the defense, a whole lot stronger a performance from the offensive side than it showed against Michigan, and it’s going to take the right attitude.

UCLA isn’t going to think this way, but it’s an 11-seed play-in team. It’s playing with house money, and it’s supposed to get blown out by a high-powered Gonzaga team that’s looking untouchable.

The pressure is all on the other side, but …

What’s Going To Happen

This is a high-powered Gonzaga team that’s looking untouchable for a reason.

Jalen Suggs is only a freshman, but he’s playing like a seasoned veteran who doesn’t make mistakes as the perfect quarterback for this group of star talents. the size, the versatility, and the steadiness are all showing through this run.

UCLA was able to stall a high-powered Alabama team, it all but shut down the explosive Wolverines, and it stuffed a BYU squad that came the close to giving Gonzaga problems. It’s used to stopping unstoppable offenses, but it’s not going to have the scoring consistency needed to pull it off.

The Bruins will avoid the knockout punch two minutes in like USC suffered, but it’s coming.

It won’t be a walk in the park, but the methodical greatness of Gonzaga will motor on through to the national championship game.

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UCLA vs Gonzaga Prediction, Line

Gonzaga 84, UCLA 68
Line: Gonzaga -13.5, o/u: 145
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

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Must See Rating: 5

5: Baseball in the middle of summer
1: Baseball in April

– Oops & Helmets: 25 Worst Football & Basketball Schools 2020-2021

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Baylor vs Houston Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament Final Four

NCAA Tournament Final Four: (1) Baylor (26-2) vs (2) Houston (28-3) prediction and college basketball game preview.

NCAA Tournament Final Four: (1) Baylor (26-2) vs (2) Houston (28-3) prediction and college basketball game preview.

Baylor vs Houston Broadcast

Date: Saturday, April 3
Game Time: COMING
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: CBS

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Baylor vs Houston Game Preview

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Why Houston Will Win

This Houston team is as active, tough, and relentless as any in college basketball.

No, it doesn’t operate with the ruthless offensive efficiency of Gonzaga, and putting together a full 40 minutes of consistency hasn’t been easy – like in the 67-61 win over Oregon State to get here – but to get schmaltzy, try finding a team that plays with a bigger heart.

Oregon State pulled off a minor miracle to get back in the game and tie it after getting its doors blown off for the first 20 minutes, but just when it seems like it was about to take over – Houston got an offensive rebound. And then another one. And another one.

The Cougars outrebounded the Beavers 41-29 including a ridiculous 19 on the offensive end. No, it didn’t mean Houston just wanted it more, but it simply managed to do everything right to keep possessions going.

Arkansas is able to do that a bit, too. It outrebounded Baylor 34-29 with 11 offensive boards in the 81-72 Bear win, and that could be the Achilles’ heel. This is a loaded Baylor team that’s playing as well as anyone at both ends of the floor, but it’s just okay on the defensive glass.

Houston has the defensive style, the attacking ability, and the athleticism to hand with the ultra-quick Bears. But …

Why Baylor Will Win

Oregon State hit 38% from three against the Cougars. That was just enough to get back in the game and make it interesting. Who leads the nation in threes?

Baylor, and it showed off against Arkansas by nailing 8-of-15 from the outside as it kept finding ways to stay ahead even after the Hogs managed to go on a run.

More than that, the Bears don’t make mistakes. They don’t have turnover issues – just nine against the Hogs – they’re great at generating the extra pass for the assistance, and they’re fantastic inside, too.

All of that, and they can hit the offensive glass. The defensive side they’re just okay at getting on the boards, but they’re great at keeping possessions alive and getting the extra chances, too.

What’s Going To Happen

There’s absolutely no such thing as a cheap run to the Final Four. If you got here, you went on a four-game run doing something very, very well.

With that said, Houston beat a 15 (Cleveland State), a 10 (Rutgers) and an 11 (Syracuse) before getting a 12 (Oregon State). That’s four double-digit seeds, and now there’s a massive step-up coming in overall talent level.

But it’s more than that. Again, this takes nothing away from the Cougars, but the last three teams they faced were good matchups for them – along with being double-digit seeds. All three were defensive-minded squads with the Orange and Beavers ultra-reliant on hitting from the outside.

Baylor is an entirely different problem.

That’s not to say that Houston can’t pitch a defensive gem, but Baylor can play a little D, too. It forced 15 Arkansas turnovers and clamped down hard from the outside. The real key, though, will be the Bears’ offensive versatility.

They’ll find every way to score, and they won’t get decimated on the glass. Houston won’t get the offensive rebounds they’ll need.

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Baylor vs Houston Prediction, Line

Baylor 71, Houston 64
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING

Bet on this game online at BetMGM! Risk-free first bet for new customers in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Must See Rating:

5: Baseball in the middle of summer
1: Baseball in April

Photo Credits: Houston: Jenna Watson/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports/Baylor: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

– Oops & Helmets: 25 Worst Football & Basketball Schools 2020-2021

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