Free College Basketball NCAA Tournament Final 4 Pick:
#5 Michigan State Spartans (28-8, 14-4 Big Ten) vs. #5 Butler Bulldogs (32-4, 18-0 Horizon League) Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, 4/3, 6:07 PM
It is almost tradition in the NCAA tournament that a 12 seed beats a 5 seed. It happened this year when Cornell beat Temple, but many expected that either Michigan State or Butler would be the team to fall. Not so this year as they both find themselves in the Final Four.
Michigan State’s run to the Final Four couldn’t have gotten much closer. All of their games have been decided by seven points or less. All but one game has been decided by three points or less. They beat New Mexico State by three in the first round, then Maryland by two, and then they had a breather against Northern Iowa with a seven point win. In their Elite Eight win over Tennessee they were in yet another close game, eventually pulling out the win by one, 70-69. Raymar Morgan hit a free throw with two seconds remaining to put the Spartans in front for good. Durrell Summers led all scorers with 21 for the Spartans. For Michigan State, the Final Four is nothing new. Last year they lost in the title game to North Carolina. Since Tom Izzo took over as coach in 1995-96 any of his players that stayed for four years has made at least one Final Four. It will stay that way now until at least 2013. This is also the ten year anniversary of the Spartans’ second national championship, their first under Tom Izzo.
Despite Michigan State being close by to Indianapolis, Butler will have the home court advantage. Butler University is located in Indianapolis, about five miles away from Lucas Oil Stadium. The Bulldogs have been on a mission this entire tournament, and their dream to make it to Indianapolis has come true. It wasn’t an easy trip, though. They easily defeated UTEP in the first round, but then played a close game and won by two over Murray State. Then they pulled off one of the big upsets of the tournament against Syracuse, 63-59. In the Elite Eight, they knocked off Kansas State with a seven-point, 63-56 win. Gordon Hayward scored 22 in the win over the Wildcats. They are now riding a 24 game winning streak, the nation’s longest. In their first ever trip to the Final Four, it is clear this team is for real.
Butler can’t really be considered a Cinderella story, but they are certainly a surprise. This game will determine if the surprise can knock out the experience for the right to play for the national championship.
Butler is favored by 1 point. The total is listed at 126.
Michigan State Betting Trends:
Michigan State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games |
Michigan State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games |
Butler Betting Trends:
Butler is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games |
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games |
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Butler's last 6 games
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Pick: Take Michigan State +1
Betting Trends by Bodog.com |
