Selection Sunday is a distant memory. The play-in games feel like speed bumps. The first round is in the history books. However, we still have eight more games before the second round wraps up, and a couple more rounds after that. We’ll have eight more teams in the Sweet Sixteen after today, and we’ve got picks against the spread for each. Let’s go through our March Madness second-round picks for March 23rd.
March Madness Second Round Picks: Saturday, March 23rd
(8) UConn vs (1) Florida 12:10 p.m.
Florida beat Norfolk State soundly in the first round, but failed to cover, while UConn covered and won its 17th straight NCAA tournament game in a win over Oklahoma. The UConn winning streak ends as they run into a buzzsaw on Sunday.
The Florida Gators have the best roster in the nation. They match up well with a Huskies team that lacks depth and has struggled to find an offensive identity at times. UConn has an advantage in coaching and preparation, but that can only take them so far. Florida is out to win a title with a deep, talented roster, and they start their run in earnest by defeating the big dog on the block. Chomp! Chomp! Gators roll the Huskies and move on to the Sweet Sixteen.
Pick: Florida -8.5 (-102)
(9) Baylor vs (1) Duke 2:40 p.m.
Duke destroyed Mount St. Mary’s in the first round while Baylor made their first-round win against Mississippi State a lot harder than it should have been.
Baylor went 4-5-1 ATS against ranked opponents and 5-5-1 in the non-conference slate. However, the Bears covered both games against Houston this season. One of the spreads they covered was 11 points. Baylor has athletes to compete with Duke, and they’re riding into the second round with Jeremy Roach, a former Duke player, on the roster and in his last tournament.
Duke sent a message against Mount St. Mary’s, but have struggled in neutral site games and against ranked opponents. The Blue Devils went 2-2 ATS against ranked opponents and 3-4 ATS at neutral sites. The Blue Devils haven’t been tested against elite competition the way Baylor has. Let’s ride with Baylor to stay within the number.
Pick: Baylor +11.5 (-110)
(6) Illinois vs (3) Kentucky 5:15 p.m.
Illinois dressed up a win over a dead-legged Xavier team playing its second game in three days. Kentucky rolled an outmatched Troy team in their first round win. These teams will stay in Milwaukee. That matters because Illinois gets the second round match up firmly in Big Ten country. U of I fans will make the drive from Champaign and the Chicagoland area to give the crowd to the Illini.
When it comes to the hardwood, these teams are really similar. Both lack experience up and down the roster but have veteran point guards to run the show. The only concern is that Kentucky’s vet, Lamont Butler, has been banged up for a while. Given the crowd and the health situation, this one goes to Illinois.
Pick: Illinois -1 (-105)
(7) St. Mary’s vs (1) Alabama 6:10 p.m.
St. Mary’s draws Alabama in the second round of March Madness. Talk about your difference in style. Alabama wants to get up and down the court as quickly as possible, and St. Mary’s tries to control pace and grind down opponents. Alabama played a tight match up against Robert Morris, while St. Mary’s escaped the first round with a close win over Vanderbilt.
St. Mary’s was not an ATS darling this year. They went 3-10 ATS in their non-conference schedule and went 1-6 at neutral-site games. Alabama went 12-4 ATS against ranked opponents, and 5-2 at neutral site games.
St. Mary’s struggled with Vanderbilt’s pace and athleticism. They’ll get more of each against Alabama, and the Crimson Tide will roll into the Sweet Sixteen.
Pick: Alabama -5.5 (-110)
(12) Colorado State vs (4) Maryland 7:10 p.m.
This second round up features two of the hottest teams in the country, but only one will stay hot and make it to the Sweet Sixteen. Ride with Colorado State to keep this game within the number, but Maryland is the team that moves on.
The Terrapins size and physical play will keep the Rams on the losing side of this match up. However, Colorado State is capable of shooting the lights out. They’ll make enough shots to keep this one close, but Maryland will close this one out with a massive game from Derik Queen to get into the next round.
Pick: Colorado State +7.5 (-110)
(6) Ole Miss vs (3) Iowa State 7:45 p.m.
Ole Miss got through a North Carolina team that had to play their way into the tournament, while Iowa State shredded Lipscomb to move on.
Iowa State is still without star guard Keshon Gilbert, but the pieces they have left are ballers that play within a system. Ole Miss has athletes that play within a system. When it comes to ballers versus athletes, you’ll want to take the ballers. Rebels point guard Sean Pedulla will struggle against Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, and the Cyclones will get enough offense from Curtis Jones and Joshua Jefferson to win this one comfortably.
Ole Miss struggles, Iowa State cruises. The Cyclones roll into the Sweet Sixteen
Pick: Iowa State -5.5 (-110)
(10) New Mexico vs (2) Michigan State 8:40 p.m.
New Mexico won a battle against Marquette, while Michigan rolled Bryant to get into the second round. The handicap on this one is simple. We’ve got a Tom Izzo-coached team that plays physical, Big Ten-style basketball and can get enough offense to wreck teams that aren’t as disciplined.
New Mexico has a few really good pieces, but they’re not enough to overcome a better coach with a more physical team. Donovan Dent turned the ball over eight times against Marquette and still managed to get a victory. If Dent hands the ball back eight times to Michigan State, New Mexico will lose by 20. The baskets around the bucket won’t come as easy for New Mexico, and Michigan State will roll here. Lock up Sparty to move into the Sweet Sixteen and cover the number.
Pick: Michigan State -7.5 (-102)
(5) OregOn vs (4) Arizona 9:40 p.m.
We get a classic PAC-12 match up in Seattle, WA in the second round! Oregon beat up on Liberty to move on, while Arizona wrecked Akron to take the next step. Don’t expect this one to see a ton of points as both teams should
This is a terrible match up for Oregon. Arizona has a deep roster that can adapt to whatever Oregon wants to do. Looking to run and gun? Meet Caleb Love, KJ Lewis, and Jaden Bradley. Want to get physical and bang? Henri Veesar, Tobe Awaka, and Trey Townsend are there for you.
Oregon has the physicality and a better coach, but Arizona has more pieces on the board. Arizona should find a way to make the Ducks struggle. Also, this number looks a little short. It’s likely an overreaction to how dominant Oregon looked in their win over Liberty. Look for Oregon to be a public underdog by the time this game tips, and jump on Arizona.
The line opened at 5.5, and it’s already dipped to 4.5 points. Lock up the Wildcats to win this outright and cover the spread.
Pick: Arizona -4.5 (-110)
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