**Utah State (12) versus Washington (5)**
–LVSC has Washington as a six-point favorite over Utah State, with the total listed at 141. CBS Sports will provide coverage of this game beginning Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Utah State (24-9 SU, 9-15 ATS) extended Nevada to overtime in Saturday’s WAC final on the Wolfpack’s home court before falling as a 6 1/2-point underdog, 70-63. The combined 133 points toppled the 131-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest.
–Head coach Stew Morrill’s team is led by forward Nate Harris (17.2 points per game, 7.5 rebounds) and guard Jaycee Carroll (16.1 ppg). The Aggies are a smart team that will try to grind out victories, and this style sometimes creates problems for opponents.
–Utah State lays claim to a 7-7 SU and 3-7 ATS road record.
–Washington (25-6 SU, 13-15 ATS) earned second place during the Pac-10 regular season, but was bounced out of the conference tournament by Oregon Thursday in the quarterfinals as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 84-73. The combined 157 points went ‘over’ the 143-point closing total.
–The Huskies entered halftime with a comfortable lead, 41-30, but were outscored 54-32 in the second half. Washington is led by conference player of the year Brandon Roy, who averaged almost 20 points and six rebounds per contest.
–Washington maintains a 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS road record.
**Air Force (13) versus Illinois (4)**
–LVSC installed Illinois as a nine-point ‘chalk’ over Air Force, with the total set at 112. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this first-round tilt Thursday at 7:25 p.m. from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Air Force (24-6 SU, 13-7 ATS) might have a chip on its shoulder heading into this contest after widely being criticized for making the NCAA Tournament over a couple other teams. The Falcons set a school record for victories and their matchup zone creates havoc for opponents, especially for teams that are not used to seeing it.
–Air Force fell to Wyoming Thursday in the Mountain West Tournament in a ‘non-board’ affair, 57-55. The Falcons are winless in the postseason since the 1990 campaign.
–Head coach Jeff Bzdelik’s team is led by senior point guard Antoine Hood (14.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 2.7 apg) and some 3-point bombers. Air Force spent a good chunk of the season being ranked first nationally in scoring defense, yielding just under 54 points per contest.
–Illinois (27-6 SU, 16-11 ATS) is seeking its second consecutive Final Four appearance after reaching last year’s title game. The Fighting Illini were knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament by Michigan State Friday as a 3 1/2-point favorite, 75-68. The combined 143 points went ‘over’ the 133-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to occur the fifth game in a row.
–Senior guard Dee Brown controls the keys to this offense, while big man James Augustine is often overlooked. The Illinois defense is also solid, usually limiting opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
–The Illini sport a 6-4 SU and ATS road record.
**Seton Hall (10) versus Wichita State (7)**
–LVSC opened Wichita State as a two-point favorite over Seton Hall, with the total listed at 122. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this contest Thursday at 12:20 p.m. ET from Greensboro Coliseum.
–Seton Hall (18-11 SU, 14-12 ATS) skidded its way into the tournament after stumbling to a 2-4 SU and ATS record its last six games. The Pirates were bounced out of the Big East Tournament in the first round by Rutgers as a 1 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 61-48. The combined 109 points fell well below the 134 1/2-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to occur the third straight contest.
–Inconsistency has been Seton Hall’s problem all season, and the team will have to correct that versus the Shockers or get bounced out in the opening round.
–The Pirates own a 5-6 SU and 7-4 ATS record away from home.
–Wichita State (26-8 SU, 13-13 ATS) was knocked out of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament by Bradley March 4 in the semifinals as a two-point favorite, 60-52. The combined 112 points went ‘under’ the 131-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
–The Shockers were solid down the stretch, going 12-3 SU their last 15 games to capture the regular season crown. Senior center Paul Miller is the key, averaging 12.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg while forward Kyle Wilson and guards Sean Ogirri and P.J. Couisnard provide a balanced attack.
–Wichita State is 8-6 SU and 7-6 ATS away from home, with the ‘under’ going 9-4.
**Winthrop (15) versus Tennessee (2)**
–LVSC has Tennessee listed as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk’ over Winthrop, with the total set at 138 ½. This first-round matchup will take place Thursday at Greensboro Coliseum, with CBS Sports providing coverage beginning at 2:40 p.m. ET.
–Winthrop (23-7 SU, 2-1 ATS) slipped past Coastal Carolina to capture the Big South Tournament’s automatic bid in a ‘non-board’ affair, 51-50. The Eagles also advanced last season, falling to Gonzaga in the opening round as a 14th-seed, 74-64.
–Winthrop is not a guaranteed win or cover contest, as the Eagles beat Marquette this season while dropping close contests at Alabama, Auburn and Memphis. Junior guard Torrell Martin paces the balanced offense, while center Craig Bradshaw averages six rebounds per game.
–The Eagles are 7-6 SU and 1-0 ATS on the road.
–Tennessee (23-7 SU, 17-8 ATS) was a surprise second seed, since the Vols were a pedestrian 2-4 SU and ATS its last six games. Tennessee is off Friday’s setback to South Carolina in the SEC quarterfinals as a four-point ‘chalk,’ 79-71. The combined 150 points toppled the 140-point closing total.
–The Vols have holes in their game that might be exposed later in the tournament, finishing last in the conference in field-goal percentage defense. Tennessee is also not very deep, and has just two players over 6' 5'’.
–The Vols are a solid 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS away from home.
–LVSC has Washington as a six-point favorite over Utah State, with the total listed at 141. CBS Sports will provide coverage of this game beginning Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Utah State (24-9 SU, 9-15 ATS) extended Nevada to overtime in Saturday’s WAC final on the Wolfpack’s home court before falling as a 6 1/2-point underdog, 70-63. The combined 133 points toppled the 131-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest.
–Head coach Stew Morrill’s team is led by forward Nate Harris (17.2 points per game, 7.5 rebounds) and guard Jaycee Carroll (16.1 ppg). The Aggies are a smart team that will try to grind out victories, and this style sometimes creates problems for opponents.
–Utah State lays claim to a 7-7 SU and 3-7 ATS road record.
–Washington (25-6 SU, 13-15 ATS) earned second place during the Pac-10 regular season, but was bounced out of the conference tournament by Oregon Thursday in the quarterfinals as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 84-73. The combined 157 points went ‘over’ the 143-point closing total.
–The Huskies entered halftime with a comfortable lead, 41-30, but were outscored 54-32 in the second half. Washington is led by conference player of the year Brandon Roy, who averaged almost 20 points and six rebounds per contest.
–Washington maintains a 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS road record.
**Air Force (13) versus Illinois (4)**
–LVSC installed Illinois as a nine-point ‘chalk’ over Air Force, with the total set at 112. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this first-round tilt Thursday at 7:25 p.m. from Cox Arena in San Diego, California.
–Air Force (24-6 SU, 13-7 ATS) might have a chip on its shoulder heading into this contest after widely being criticized for making the NCAA Tournament over a couple other teams. The Falcons set a school record for victories and their matchup zone creates havoc for opponents, especially for teams that are not used to seeing it.
–Air Force fell to Wyoming Thursday in the Mountain West Tournament in a ‘non-board’ affair, 57-55. The Falcons are winless in the postseason since the 1990 campaign.
–Head coach Jeff Bzdelik’s team is led by senior point guard Antoine Hood (14.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 2.7 apg) and some 3-point bombers. Air Force spent a good chunk of the season being ranked first nationally in scoring defense, yielding just under 54 points per contest.
–Illinois (27-6 SU, 16-11 ATS) is seeking its second consecutive Final Four appearance after reaching last year’s title game. The Fighting Illini were knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament by Michigan State Friday as a 3 1/2-point favorite, 75-68. The combined 143 points went ‘over’ the 133-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to occur the fifth game in a row.
–Senior guard Dee Brown controls the keys to this offense, while big man James Augustine is often overlooked. The Illinois defense is also solid, usually limiting opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
–The Illini sport a 6-4 SU and ATS road record.
**Seton Hall (10) versus Wichita State (7)**
–LVSC opened Wichita State as a two-point favorite over Seton Hall, with the total listed at 122. CBS Sports will begin coverage of this contest Thursday at 12:20 p.m. ET from Greensboro Coliseum.
–Seton Hall (18-11 SU, 14-12 ATS) skidded its way into the tournament after stumbling to a 2-4 SU and ATS record its last six games. The Pirates were bounced out of the Big East Tournament in the first round by Rutgers as a 1 1/2-point ‘chalk,’ 61-48. The combined 109 points fell well below the 134 1/2-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to occur the third straight contest.
–Inconsistency has been Seton Hall’s problem all season, and the team will have to correct that versus the Shockers or get bounced out in the opening round.
–The Pirates own a 5-6 SU and 7-4 ATS record away from home.
–Wichita State (26-8 SU, 13-13 ATS) was knocked out of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament by Bradley March 4 in the semifinals as a two-point favorite, 60-52. The combined 112 points went ‘under’ the 131-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
–The Shockers were solid down the stretch, going 12-3 SU their last 15 games to capture the regular season crown. Senior center Paul Miller is the key, averaging 12.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg while forward Kyle Wilson and guards Sean Ogirri and P.J. Couisnard provide a balanced attack.
–Wichita State is 8-6 SU and 7-6 ATS away from home, with the ‘under’ going 9-4.
**Winthrop (15) versus Tennessee (2)**
–LVSC has Tennessee listed as a 7 1/2-point ‘chalk’ over Winthrop, with the total set at 138 ½. This first-round matchup will take place Thursday at Greensboro Coliseum, with CBS Sports providing coverage beginning at 2:40 p.m. ET.
–Winthrop (23-7 SU, 2-1 ATS) slipped past Coastal Carolina to capture the Big South Tournament’s automatic bid in a ‘non-board’ affair, 51-50. The Eagles also advanced last season, falling to Gonzaga in the opening round as a 14th-seed, 74-64.
–Winthrop is not a guaranteed win or cover contest, as the Eagles beat Marquette this season while dropping close contests at Alabama, Auburn and Memphis. Junior guard Torrell Martin paces the balanced offense, while center Craig Bradshaw averages six rebounds per game.
–The Eagles are 7-6 SU and 1-0 ATS on the road.
–Tennessee (23-7 SU, 17-8 ATS) was a surprise second seed, since the Vols were a pedestrian 2-4 SU and ATS its last six games. Tennessee is off Friday’s setback to South Carolina in the SEC quarterfinals as a four-point ‘chalk,’ 79-71. The combined 150 points toppled the 140-point closing total.
–The Vols have holes in their game that might be exposed later in the tournament, finishing last in the conference in field-goal percentage defense. Tennessee is also not very deep, and has just two players over 6' 5'’.
–The Vols are a solid 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS away from home.