Greetings, rubberneckers.
Brown vs. Yale prediction
(12 p.m. Eastern)
I’ll stay loyal to the Bears since they’re one of the few teams to come through during this horrific slump. It isn’t difficult after watching Brown spend most of Saturday’s semifinal taking it to one of the best Ivy League teams in years (Princeton).
The Bears — seeking their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1986 — look carefree and confident, playing with house money. They have won seven straight games — including a road game at Yale eight days ago — while improving to 13-6 against the spread as an underdog.
Pick: Brown +7.5
Auburn vs. Florida prediction
(1 p.m. ET)
The Gators’ worst loss of the season will pay off with Bruce Pearl’s second SEC Tournament title.
The Tigers won’t let a below-average defense off the hook again by shooting 17 percent on 3s and 56 percent from the line, with an uncharacteristic 15 turnovers.
Pick: Auburn -5.5
Duquesne vs. Vcu prediction
(1 p.m. ET)
It’s hard to root against the Dukes, who are one win from their first NCAA Tournament since 1977 (Fun fact: It was clinched with an Atlantic 10 championship win over Villanova).
Duquesne — which is 7-3 against the spread as an underdog — is more than a sentimental favorite, though, notching a 10-point road win over VCU during its seven-game win streak, during which the Dukes have held opponents to an average of 61 points per game.
Pick: Duquesne +2.5
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois prediction
(3:30 p.m. ET)
The Badgers look like a different team since suffering an eight-point loss to Illinois two weeks back.
Illinois will, too, unable to bank on repeating a 56 percent shooting effort from deep against a Wisconsin defense holding Big Ten Tournament opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field.
Pick: Wisconsin +3
UAB vs. Temple prediction
(3:15 p.m. ET)
The Owls (16-19) are going for five wins in five days after entering the AAC Tournament without a four-game win streak this season.
Kemba Walker and UConn achieved the incredible feat with a team that went on to win a national championship. Temple is attempting to do it with a roster that ranks 334th in the nation in true shooting percentage.
The Owls — who suffered a 28-point loss to UAB this month — will crash back to earth after a massive upset of Florida Atlantic, in which they shot 50 percent on 3s for the second time in three games.
Pick: UAB -6.5
This season: 5-14
2011-23 record: 349-308-12