Michigan State guard Cassius Winston puts his arm around coach Tom Izzo following the team’s 80-63 win over LSU in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament East Region semifinal on March 29, 2019. 
Michigan State guard Cassius Winston puts his arm around coach Tom Izzo following the team’s 80-63 win over LSU in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament East Region semifinal on March 29, 2019. Patrick Semansky | Associated Press

Mims Final Four thoughts and picks

Auburn and Virginia are the 1st game of the Final Four this Saturday. Auburn is playing extremely well and shooting exceptional from behind the arc. They want to have a track meet and keep the game frenetic. Virginia wants it more deliberate and only wants to run off an open court turnover. The Cavaliers only turn the ball over 9 times a game. Auburn will be without Chuma Okeke who went down with a knee injury. Okeke may be their best all round player but the Tiger goes 9 deep. Virginia allows 55 points a game. The Cavs shoot 74% from the foul line. Both teams are coming off overtime thrillers to get here. Virginia is the showing that they are a resilient team. After losing in the 1st round last year they have rebounded and made a trip to the Final Four. Coach Pearl knows his team is Cinderella. The dance is over on Saturday.
Pick: Virginia over Auburn

The second game has Texas Tech against Michigan State. Texas Tech has won 30 games for a variety of reasons, but at the top of the list is defense. The Red Raiders give up the fewest points per possession of any team in the country. The Spartans shoot an impressive 38 percent from 3, 55 percent from 2, and 75 percent from the foul line. Tom Izzo has taken 8 teams to the Final Four. He has the best player in the Big Ten in point guard Cassius Winston. Texas Tech is impressive but if the game stays close, Izzo will find a way to pull it out. The win against Duke sold me.
Pick: Michigan State over Texas Tech.

I will give my full picks with the best bet of the Final Four and the best over/under selection on Friday along with the staff of Bettors Insider.

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