5-1 in our last 6 plays in the NCAA tournament. 6-4 overall since the Madness began. Coming back today with a few strong picks to cap off the opening rounds!

Duke (-9) vs. San Diego State: Duke usually plays to the level of their opponents. However, they finally came through with an impressive performance in the opening round of the tournament, beating Robert Morris by 29 points. San Diego State played well in their first game as well, handling a St. John’s team struggled at the end of the season. The Aztecs have a very solid defense and that is what makes them a tough match up for most teams, but Duke has played against tough defenses this year in Louisville and Virginia and they won both of those games. With Jalil Okafor inside, the Blue Devils have a relatively consistent scoring option in addition to Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones, and they will rely heavily on Okafor to get the Aztec big men in foul trouble and win the rebounding battle. Cook has plenty of tournament experience and has shown the ability to make plays late in the game, and I expect him to be the primary ball handler against the Aztec defense. As is the case with every match up I pick, I look for someone who can handle the ball late in the game and make their free throws, and Cook is the ideal player to fit that role. If Duke can continue to make their outside shots and work the ball inside to Okafor, I expect them to dominate this game in what could be a 20 point win. Also, Coach K has the most tournament wins of all time so if you’re looking for a winner, look no further than the Duke bench.

West Virginia (Pick) vs. Maryland: Both of these teams played close games in the opening round and if one of them is going to beat Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen, they’d better get their act together. I am giving West Virginia the advantage here for a few reasons. First, they play 12 guys that all buy in to the formula that Bob Huggins has brought to the Mountaineer program. Juwan Staten is undoubtedly their best player, but even he is part of the team concept that Huggins has built. Staten missed a lot of time this season, as well as fellow guard Gary Browne, but that gave the rest of the team a chance to get some experience and play in an expanded role. Among those who stepped up are Daxter Miles Jr. and Devin Williams, and I expect them to continue their strong play in this game against a very questionable Maryland defense. Melo Trimble and Dez Wells carry the bulk of the scoring for the Terps, but Trimble is a freshman and has been prone to turnovers when pressured this season and he has not faced a defense like West Virginia. I expect the Mountaineers to play their usual brand of basketball; up-tempo, lots of fouls, and tons of effort. It’s an unusual formula in today’s game, but it’s been working for Bob Huggins, and I think they will do enough today to move on to the Sweet Sixteen.