First Wave of Auto Bids

We are exactly one week from selection Sunday and are getting 4 auto bids handed out. Well 3 as we already know Omahas fate, I still to this day don’t understand that rule one bit, sucks for St Thomas seniors. But a win tonight is still a conference chip.

Anyways we have some really good battles today inlcuding 3 of the matchups being the top seeds in their tourneys. The fourth being 1v3. So all of these teams can go. Let’s check them out.

Let’s start out with the Big South

High Point is the favorite here, and have been in the discussion of a possible Cinderella in the big dance if they can get there. But many might recognize Winthrop as they have made it to the tourney 11 times all since 1999. Compared to High Points ZERO. Now before you run to place the wager Winthrop ML, High Point has beaten them twice this year both times by 20 plus. I think the trend of 1st ever tourney appearances continues and High Point finishes off Winthrop. The key player for them will be the Frenchman

Giffa is the key today, he plays well High Points ZERO is dancing.

Prediction: High Point 75 Winthrop 61

Let’s stay in the southern area next up with the ASUN chip

This one is much more of a toss up, you can see identical records and they split the season series. Two teams with little to none tournament appearances, Lipscomb holds the single one in 2018, pretty sure Garrison Matthews time. I’m going to look too the undersized guards for each team Jacari Lane and Joe Anderson

So these two will dictate a lot of how it goes for each squad, this one is a classic in the making of two mid majors with only this to get it their dreams.

Prediction: Lipscomb 73 North Alabama 71

Now to the far North in the Midwest, the Summit League

Unfortunately for us a game is already decided as Omaha automatically advances due to NCAA transition rules, a rule that has now hurt a half of dozen teams in the last decade. This one is all for pride tonight, the Tommies can forever say it was a Mickey Mouse bid for the Mavericks of Omaha. But here’s the thing Omaha has a story themselves picked 8th preseason and seen as the “trash” of the league. An identity they have taken seriously. Though the result is known, this one could be fun to watch. For Omaha it’s all about Marquel Sutton.

If he plays well, they will hush all the haters from Minnesota and put the stamp on their bid.

Prediction: Omaha 81 St Thomas 77 OT

NOW to the big one ARCH MADNESS! Missouri Valley Conference.

In the heart of the nation we have a pivotal matchup between two teams who feel they are worthy of an at large bid, but of course would love to avoid the week long sweat. Bradley and Drake have been a top of the MVC all season and really for the better part of the last couple years. Both have history in the big dance as well. They also split the season series in conference. So this one is the textbook definition of a coin flip. In this kind of game with both teams proud of their execution on both sides of the court it’s the point guards who you need most.

Bennett Stirtz & Duke Deen are going to be todays key, can they control their offenses and get the most out of each possession today. At the end of the game their stat lines will tell you a lot about the final score.

Prediction: Bradley 58 Drake 55

Today really kicks off the week of unknown, it should be a great intro into a week of pure basketball all day every day. Let’s get this thing going!

Bet Recap: 3-1, another positive day. Step by step. The 4th one was close too, thought Vermont would score more against the lowly New Hampshire.

Bet(s) of the Day:

North Alabama +4.5 -108

Bradley +3.5 -108

St Thomas - Omaha over 150.5 -112

NAU - Montana over 146.5 -105