ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has both UTEP and Memphis in his list of the Next Four Out (NFO), so the C-USA Championship (in El Paso) is basically a play-in game for these two teams, who are both better defensively than they are offensively…Lunardi has Clemson as a #12 seed, so a win against North Carolina would ensure a bid for the Tigers. They have a great defense so a blowout isn’t likely…Lunardi has Alabama on his list of First Four Out (FFO), so the Crimson Tide will be desperate for a win against Kentucky. Bama’s defense is near-elite, but Kentucky is far better offensively…Michigan/Ohio St. is a rivalry game, but the Wolverines need a good showing to solidify its place in the tournament. They’re currently slated for a #12 seed, so they are no sure thing…Lunardi has Virginia Tech on his list of the Last Four In (LFI), so if they are embarrassed against Duke (who will be seeking revenge for their recent loss in Blacksburg), they may find themselves on the outside looking in come tournament time…Both Florida and Vanderbilt are in the Top 15 in offensive efficiency, so this SEC semifinal should be a fun game to watch. Both teams are safely in the tournament, but this is a good chance to see a couple of potential Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight teams in action…Lunardi has Richmond as an #11 seed, while Temple is safely in as a #7 seed…Lunardi has Michigan State as his last team in, as the Spartans have played themselves onto the bubble with a fine performance against Purdue yesterday. They caught a break when Penn State beat Wisconsin, and a MSU win today will likely seal an NCAA tourney bid for Tom Izzo’s club. Conversely, Penn State is on Lunardi’s NFO list, so the Nittany Lions are just as desperate for a win…Lunardi projects Kansas to be a #1 seed while he has Texas as a #2 seed. But the Longhorns beat the Jayhawks in Lawrence, so Kansas will be looking for revenge…Washington is an advanced metrics darling despite the 10 losses. Lunardi has them as a #9 seed, and a win against Arizona would indicate that the Huskies will be a very live dog (pun intended) come tourney time…Unfortunately, the BYU/SDSU matchup is only available on the Mountain West Network. It seems like the conference should do whatever it can to get this game on national television…Kemba Walker is arguably the hottest player in the country, but the Huskies are playing their fifth game in as many days. Both teams are coming off overtime wins in the semis.
I’ll be tweeting throughout the day @fantasytips. It should be a fun one.
