UCLA vs. Gonzaga has prompt basic potential, plus different greatest bets for Thursday

Our lengthy nightmare is over. The three days between the second spherical and the Candy 16 of the lads’s NCAA Event have handed. Tonight the joys of watching youngsters (OK, so a few of them are like 24 due to COVID eligibility guidelines) miss leap photographs extra ceaselessly than their skilled counterparts will return to our lives.

This is hoping tonight’s video games match the thrill and unpredictability of the primary weekend. Or, on the very least, this is hoping that our bets win. Earlier than we get to them, let’s atone for all the most recent happenings from round this world we name sports activities.

Let’s get to some candy Candy 16 winners.

All occasions Jap, and all odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook

🔥 The Sizzling Ticket

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 Gonzaga, 9:45 p.m. | TV: CBS

• Key Development: There isn’t any development that helps this play. The developments are haters.
• The Decide: Gonzaga +1.5 (-110)

I take no pleasure in making this decide. I owe so much to this UCLA crew, or at the very least its two largest contributors. Over their careers, I’ve received loads of bets driving the coattails of UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell (and Johnny Juzang in earlier seasons). However that is faculty, so it has to finish someday, and there is a actual probability that point is tonight. Merely put, Gonzaga should not be the underdog on this sport.

Gonzaga is the higher crew. That is not the case if Jaylen Clark is wholesome, however he is not, and whereas the Bruins have gone 4-1 with out him, the wins got here towards Colorado, Oregon, UNC Asheville and Northwestern. The lone loss got here to Arizona, a crew far nearer to Gonzaga in high quality than Northwestern or Oregon. Whereas the Bruins have received, there isn’t any denying they have not been as robust defensively with out Clark, and tonight they will face probably the most environment friendly offense within the nation.

The Bruins will not have Clark round to protect Julian Strawther, who is commonly misplaced within the shadow of Drew Timme however has shot 42.2% from three and has been one of the crucial environment friendly scorers within the nation. All that stated, I am nonetheless taking Gonzaga with the factors. Whereas I imagine the Bulldogs win most of the time, I’ve an excessive amount of respect for Mick Cronin, Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell to rule out the chance they intestine out yet another win, even by the slimmest of margins.

Regardless of the consequence, this would be the greatest sport of our 4 Candy 16 choices tonight.

This is what SportsLine is saying concerning the sport: The Projection Mannequin is strongly on my aspect betting this unfold, however you need to see how assured it’s a few play on the entire.

💰 Extra Candy 16 picks

No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 7 Michigan State, 6:30 p.m. | TV: TBS
The Decide: Michigan State (-125) — With match video games, loads of the worth you discover relies on how groups have carried out not too long ago in comparison with how they’ve carried out over the whole season. On the season, Kansas State has been higher than Michigan State, even when solely barely. Nonetheless, Michigan State’s been higher during the last month than Kansas State, and by a margin that is extra important than the Wildcats’ benefit over the whole 12 months.

That is a part of the explanation why Kansas State opened as a 1-point favourite and is now a 1 to 1.5-point underdog, relying on the place you look. I do not see a lot worth in betting this unfold on both aspect. If I am betting it, I am betting the cash line, and I see extra worth on the Spartans. My main concern about Kansas State all season has been its lack of measurement on the perimeter. The Wildcats will discover methods to attain towards the Spartans tonight, however I’ve reputable issues concerning the Wildcats stopping Michigan State. I am taking the Spartans to win, and in order for you a participant prop, I might look to take the over on Joey Hauser‘s factors whole.

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic, 9 p.m. | TV: TBS
The Decide: Tennessee -5 (-110) — To the dismay of Duke followers, Tennessee is out there to play tonight and never in jail for beating Duke’s gamers so badly final week. Whereas I fortunately cashed my Tennessee +4.5 ticket within the sport, even I used to be shocked to see how, let’s say, “aggressive” the Vols have been of their strategy. And it labored! So I can’t decide them.

I don’t imagine the Vols will must be as bodily tonight, although that does not imply they will go straightforward on the Owls. Primarily based on how the convention has carried out this postseason (C-USA is 23-11 within the postseason, solely the SEC has carried out higher), it is honest to say the choice committee underappreciated Convention USA and that FAU was underseeded. However Florida Atlantic’s offensive efficiency has dipped these days, and I fear concerning the Owls’ lack of size on this matchup. Tennessee’s the most effective defensive groups within the nation, and I see them presenting all types of issues for FAU tonight.

🔒 SportsLine Decide of the Day: The Projection Mannequin’s favourite play in tonight’s Candy 16 matchups is a play on the entire between Tennessee and Florida Atlantic.