Friday’s NCAA Conference Tournament Games: Free Basketball Picks

Virginia Cavaliers (+17) @ Duke Blue Devils: I know Duke is good, but they aren’t this good. Last time out they went bananas and actually hit all their deep shots. So it’s unlikely that they do it again, and a 17 point spread is a tough one to cover, even in a game in which you win easily. I think the Cavs are tough, tougher than they played down the stretch and tougher than their .500 record shows. They are a well coached team and I ‘ll take them again.

Michigan Wolverines (+9) @ Ohio State Buckeyes: I actually like the Buckeyes a lot, but Michigan has played plenty of close games this year, and they are playing for everything in this game. The Buckeyes are very good, and they also have the best college basketball player in the nation on their team. But Michigan will play tough, and I think 9 is just too much.

Illinois Illini @ Wisconsin Badgers (-8): The Illini have lost 3 straight coming in, 5 of the last 6, and the good teams in the Big 10 have made them look really bade over the last few games. Wisconsin, Ohio State  (twice), and Purdue all beat the Illini by double digits. Three of those games were at least 15 points. I don’t have a great feel for Illinois, but something about that looks bad, I’ll go the other way.

Georgetown Hoyas @ Marquette Golden Eagles (+4): Boy, it’s really tough to gage either of these teams, honestly, as the Hoyas are very talented at the top of their roster while the Eagles are full of fighters, hence their 4 overtime games in their last 7 games overall. Plus, two of their non-overtime games were won by a total of 6 points, combined. The Hoyas have looked really good lately, and they’re healthy – but I think that huge win over Syracuse will effect them in a bad way. I like Marquette to pull the upset here, or at least cover in a very close game.