Check out Mike Kern’s main Thursday picks (with five others) in our Staff Selection Post here. These are his leftovers:
Florida (-2) over Nevada, 6:50 p.m.This is more of a vote for the SEC, which was really strong this season. But once more, largely a stab. For whatever that’s worth.
Belmont (+3) over Maryland, 3:10 p.m.Not sure how good Maryland is, and I’m willing to ride the Belmont wave for at least one more game.
Syracuse (-2) over BaylorJimmy B. can’t lose in the first round to Baylor, can he? This isn’t the women’s bracket. And that zone can be tough if you’re not used to it.
If You Must:Vermont (+9) over Florida State, 2 p.m.Auburn (-5.5) over New Mexico, 1:30 p.m.
Villanova vs. Saint Mary’s, 7:20 p.m.Most folks likely want to see a pick on this one, but I don’t have a really confident opinion. I was in there when the Wildcats lost to this team in the second round in 2010. I think they’ll find a way to get it done, because that’s what they do best, but honestly I’m not sure about the covering part. How’s that for taking a stand? Still, put a gun to my head and I guess I’d give the 4.5 and hope that’s not the homer in me taking over. Jay’s teams have had its share of issues in the early rounds, in case you haven’t been paying attention. Even in some years when they’ve gone to a Final Four. You can look it up.
NCAA Kern-els:Morant is being projected as maybe the second or third pick in the NBA draft, behind only the next Lebron and his Duke teammate. For someone from Murray State, that’s, well, a once in a progam’s history kind of deal . . . And can anyone please explain to me why Marquette got a five seed while Villanova, which won both the Big East regular season and tourney title, was given a six. NET that … Why is Kansas only an 8.5-point favorite over Northeastern (Northeastern?)? Of course Bill Self has been known to go down early before, and this isn’t exactly his best team. The Jayhawks did get to Final Four last year, so maybe that means they’re due to pull another early whatever. But if they do get to the Sweet 16 as a four seed, they would play North Carolina in Kansas City. Bet Roy Williams will be fine with that. And to think the NCAA wouldn’t let Villanova play in Philly as a two seed in 2016 (when UNC was also the No. 1). As I recall, though, that worked out OK for the Wildcats . . . Will be interesting to see how LSU plays with all the stuff going on down there. Last year Arizona was sort of in the same position and went out in the first round with the big guy who would become the top pick in the NBA draft. Those intangibles have been known to play with the equation.