NCAA Tournament Fantasy Challenge
Three Review-Journal sports department members and three professional handicappers have been given $2,000 fantasy bankrolls to bet during the NCAA Tournament — two picks per day of either sides, totals or one of each. Below are their bets for today, with a brief explanation as to their picks:
Adam Hill, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,510 Saturday: Lost $15
Today: Betting $330
Bet 1: $220 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky
Comment: The Wildcats put everything they had into beating Ohio State, while the Tar Heels cruised to an easy victory over Marquette.
Bet 2: $110 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas
Comment: The Rams are executing their offense to perfection and will score enough to stay with the eventual national champions.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,145 Saturday: Lost $20
Today: Betting $440
Bet 1: $220 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas Comment: I don’t like standing in front of this freight train with a Jayhawks logo, but double digits is too much to give up at this stage of the tourney.
Bet 2: $220 on Kentucky-North Carolina over 146 Comment: The Tar Heels will be off to the races, and the Wildcats will have to join them to keep up in this potentially wild game.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal
Bankroll: $2,216 Saturday: Won $320
Today: Betting $209
Bet 1: $132 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas
Comment: The Jayhawks won their first three tournament games by 19, 14 and 20 points. But the confident Rams won’t roll over.
Bet 2: $77 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky
Comment: It will be tough for the Wildcats to contain Carolina big men Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson.
John Kelly, EOG.com
Bankroll: $260 Saturday: Won $100
Today: Betting $110
Bet 1: $55 on Kentucky -1 over North Carolina
Comment: A slight edge goes to the versatile players the Wildcats put on the floor.
Bet 2: $55 on Kentucky-North Carolina over 146
Comment: Both freshmen point guards, Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall, like to push the pace.
Bruce Marshall, The Gold Sheet
Bankroll: $1,775 Saturday: Lost $20
Today: Betting $605
Bet 1: $440 on North Carolina +1 over Kentucky
Comment: The matchups look good for North Carolina, as the Wildcats had problems with Tar Heels bigs Tyler Zeller and John Henson in December.
Bet 2: $165 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas
Comment: The Jayhawks are potent but not especially quick, and the Rams’ balance keeps them close.
Ken Thomson, SportsXRadio.com
Bankroll: $610 Saturday: Lost $550
Today: Betting $330
Bet 1: $220 on Kentucky -1 over North Carolina
Comment: Mike Colbert of Cantor Gaming picked Kentucky to win it all, and he’s luckier than me.
Bet 2: $110 on Virginia Commonwealth +11½ over Kansas
Comment: Coach Shaka Smart has his Rams playing like George Mason’s Final Four team of 2006.