Jim Root

“Memphis is one of my favorite first round bets. They are an underdog in a five twelve game as the five seed that's gonna catch a lot of eyes. But the big thing for me there is Memphis is is poor in predictive analytics because they're terrible against bad teams. Like, they they are the opposite of a computer tricker where when they play somebody they're a 20 favorite against, they win by seven. And when they're a 30 favorite, they win by seven again. Like, they just don't really blow teams out. But if you put a team across from them that they view as their equal and, you know, top 25, top competition, that's when Ganzai or that's when Memphis shines. And I think we'll see that against Colorado State. Maybe a little chip on the shoulder, like, we're underdogs against the 12 seed. After all we did in the nonconference, they played one of the best schedules of anybody in the country, flew all over the country, so I'm not worried about them going all the way across to Seattle for this game. I think it sets up well for for Penny Hardaway to play the disrespect card in the locker room, and and you get a a Memphis win there in the first round.”

70-78 — Colorado State upset Memphis 78-70 in the NCAA Tournament first round; Memphis moneyline loses.

“Two totals I like quite a bit, High Point and Purdue the over. I'm actually surprised this one hasn't gone up from one fifty three and a half.”

63-75 — Purdue beat High Point 75-63, a combined 138 points; the over 153.5 busts.

“I think that's gonna be a real problem, and you just see points back and forth. The other big total I like, Clemson and McNeese, the under in that one. And this one is really tempo based where I think both will slow each other down. They kind of press to slow the game down. Like, Clemson doesn't even try to get steals in their press. They're just, like, making you use the shot clock, get far down into it, and and have to take a tough one with five or ten seconds on the clock. And if you, you know, extrapolate that over the course of a game where both teams are doing that to each other, I think the possession count comes in way under what's projected here in 134 and a half, 134. I've I've taken quite a bit of that as well.”

67-69 — McNeese upset Clemson 69-67, a combined 136 points; the under 134.5 busts.

“So I I laid some three and a half. I think it's more four in the market now, but I I think that's an okay price as well. Saint Mary's.”

59-56 — Saint Mary's beat Vanderbilt 59-56, a 3-point margin; Saint Mary's -3.5 busts.

“First one, UC San Diego, and I know this isn't, you know, a crazy one with the trendy, and it's only plus two and a half. So we're not going nuts with an outright type dog here, but I I just I love this team all season, and I like the matchup.”

65-68 — Michigan beat UC San Diego 68-65; UC San Diego moneyline loses.

“So u c u c San Diego is one there for sure. And then right next to them in the bracket, I like Yale. There's some situational stuff that's that's brutal for them with having played Sunday, and then they have to go and play at Altitude on Thursday in Denver. I don't love that. But the matchup with with Texas A and M doesn't scare me that much. You know, Texas A and M's huge strength getting all over the offensive glass. They try to win the the extras, win the possession battle, and Yale can compete there. It's a really good defensive rebounding team.”

71-80 — Texas A&M beat Yale 80-71; Yale moneyline loses.

“I'm going with Texas Tech, and maybe there's some stubbornness for me here because I picked them to the final four in the preseason when they were, like, barely a top 25 team, and now they're sitting here seventh and Ken Pound.”

Texas Tech (3-seed) lost the Elite Eight to Florida 84-79; Florida went on to win the 2025 national championship. Futures bet lost.

“And then one bet I am on is UC Davis. I think they're minus four now, a team I like there.”

CSUB 71, UC Davis 66 — Cal State Bakersfield beat UC Davis outright 71-66 on Feb 20, 2025, so UC Davis -4 did not cover (ESPN box score).

“So I like Bonaventure here. I'm a little worried about foul trouble since they don't have much depth, but it's a talented team. Great starting five. I think they'll control the tempo and they're very, very well coached. They'll have a great game plan. Give me the Bonneys plus one and a half.”

LSU 76, SBU 61 — NCAA Tournament results show LSU beat St. Bonaventure 76-61, so St. Bonaventure failed to cover +1.5.

“I will ride with the over 161.5.”

ARK 85, COLG 68 — NCAA Tournament results show Arkansas beat Colgate 85-68, a 153-point game that stayed under 161.5.

“FIU minus two and a half hosting UTSA”

UTSA beat FIU 87-80, so FIU -2.5 lost.

“Tarleton State here. Plus seven and a half, I would take it down to plus six. Let's ride with the Texans, baby.”

Utah Valley beat Tarleton State 73-60, so Tarleton +7.5 lost.

“I am looking at Charlotte there. open right now is a home dog to UAB plus one and a half.”

UAB beat Charlotte 75-63, so Charlotte +1.5 lost.