The NCAA Tournament South Regional gets underway at 12:40 p.m. EDT today with four games beginning with sixth seed Louisville taking on Stanford from Rupp Arena in Lexington. The question is how many Kentucky fans will show up to cheer against the Cardinals… or for the Cardinal. Texas A&M has a team that could possibly make it to the final four but they have a good Penn Quakers team standing in their way at 3 p.m. followed by top seed Ohio State and Central Connecticut at 7:10 p.m. Eight-seed BYU and nine-seed Xavier provide the regions best matchup of the day. That game is a late tip-off beginning at 9:40.
Louisville Cardinals (23-9) vs. Stanford Cardinal (18-12), 12:40 p.m., Line Louisville -5 ½ (127 total). Stanford, with the worst record of the at-large teams comes into the tournament after losing its last two games and four of its last five. The Cardinal must have some good friends on the NCAA selection committee. Point-Spreads.com pick: OVER 127.
Texas A&M Aggies (25-6) vs. Penn Quakers (22-8), 3 p.m., Line Texas A&M -13 ½ (135 total). The Aggies are potentially a final four team under coach Billy Gillispe and senior guard Acie Law IV is one of the best players in the nation. The Quakers will try to keep pace with a veteran team led by seniors Mark Zoeller and Ibrahim Jaaber. Penn should keep it close but the Aggies will prevail. Point-Spreads.com pick: Penn +13 ½.
Ohio State Buckeyes (30-3) vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (22-11), 7:10 p.m. Line OSU -21 (126 ½ total). Thad Matta isn’t going to let his Buckeyes lose to CCSU, not with Greg Oden. About the only thing Ohio State could do to prevent losing this game is to not show up. No offense to the Blue Devils, but the talent isn’t there to play at this level. And don’t forget that a 16-seed has never defeated a one-seed. Not going to happen here either. Point-Spreads.com pick: Buckeyes -21.
Brigham Young University Cougars (24-8) vs. Xavier Musketeers (24-8), 9:40 p.m. Line Xavier -2 (148 ½ total) BYU is an eight-seed and underdog to the nine-seed according to the oddsmakers. The Atlantic Ten Co-Champs have a better resume than BYU with wins over VCU, Kansas State, Illinois and Villanova. BYU is the best of the Mountain West but the league was disappointing this year. Point-Spreads.com pick: Xavier -2.
