10 Unit Play. #846 Take Xavier over Minnesota (Friday 12:25 pm CBS) NCAA Tournament Game of the Year. The Golden Gophers made a big run during the latter portion of the season and unlike Mississippi State, getting beat in the finals did not prevent them from making the NCAA Tournament. But Minnesota not only got beat, they got blown out by 29 points on Sunday against Ohio State. That tells me that they are out of gas and I do not believe they will be able to put forth much effort against Xavier on Friday.

Xavier comes in angry since they lost to Richmond in overtime on Saturday in the Atlantic-10 semi-finals despite being in control for most of that game. That is kind of the norm for the Musketeers, as they usually loss before the finals of their conference tournament but then make a long run in the tournament. Xavier will enter this game having won eight of their last nine games overall and they have won a combined six NCAA Tournament games the last three seasons. This includes beating a Big Ten team (Wisconsin) in the round of 32 last year.

Granted, it is hard not to favor the Gophers in the coaching department with Tubby Smith over the rookie Chris Mack, but Tubby Smith snapped his NCAA Tournament first round winning streak last year when Minnesota lost to Texas, 76-62. The Gophers still are without point guard Al Nolen and unlike most mid-majors playing a Big 10 team, the Musketeers have the size to match-up with the Gophers down low. The guard battle extremely favors the team from Cincinnati.

Xavier is 12-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 16 NCAA Tournament games. Xavier is also 7-0 ATS in their last seven games against Big Ten teams. Finally Minnesota is just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following an ATS loss in their previous game. That will be the case again on Friday, as the Gophers are sent home going one and done for the second straight year.

4 Unit Play. #826 Take Gonzaga over Florida State (Friday 7:10 pm CBS) If this game was on the west coast, most people would be all over Gonzaga but since it takes place in Buffalo the line is low. That is to our advantage, as Florida State played nobody down the stretch and finished just 10-6 in a weak ACC. This included two losses to Clemson during the home stretch. The problem still remains for Florida State, they have trouble scoring points. The Seminoles averaged just 53 ½ points during their last four games. The Bulldogs average close to ten points more per game then the Seminoles. Gonzaga is one of the few mid-major teams that can match-up with BCS Conference teams down low. Matt Bouldin is the leader of this team and expect him to come up big yet again on Friday. FSU is not a good play as a favorite going 1-6 ATS in their last seven games when they are favored by seven or less points. Gonzaga is 8-1 ATS in their last nine games against teams with winning records.

4 Unit Play. #844 Take Pittsburgh over Oakland (Friday 2:55 CBS) The Panthers are once again a very physical team and that should bode well facing a bottom conference mid-major squad. The Panthers have won at least one NCAA Tournament games the last four years (8 overall). I feel that they are over seeded this year but that just means they get to play an easier team. The Golden Grizzles have a star player in Keith Benson, but when teams shut him down they lose. Pittsburgh has the personal to achieve this goal and expect them to double team him whenever possible. The Panthers are 14-5 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 21 games against teams with a winning record.

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. #838 Take California over Louisville (Friday 9:55 pm CBS) California played a brutal schedule to open the season but they have finished strong winning six of their last seven games. The PAC-10 was bad this year but Cal has talent, experience, size, and coaching. Louisville had a major drop-off in talent this year and if they do not make shots from the arc, I see them losing this game by double-digits. The Cardinals shot under 45% this season from the field. As good of a coach as Rick Pitino is, Mike Montgomery is no slouch either. Louisville is just 1-4 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games. California is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. Don’t forget to sign-up for Doc’s NCAA Tournament Game of the Year which goes on Friday!

4 Unit Play. #849 Take Houston over Maryland (9:50 pm CBS) The Cougars made an outstanding run during the Conference USA Tournament to make the 2010 NCAA Tournament by beating UTEP on Saturday. I expect them to give the Terrapins all that they can handle on Friday since they have a veteran coach in Tom Penders and a star player in Aubrey Coleman. Coleman averages over 25 points per game and I expect him to achieve that mark again on Friday since Maryland plays a similar up-tempo style as Houston. Maryland shared the ACC title this season with Duke, but this was one of the worst year’s the ACC has had in the history of the conference. Coach Williams is not a good game coach and if Houston can stay close early I think they have a great chance to win this game straight-up. Maryland has made just three NCAA Tournaments since 2005 and I am still not sold on their floor leader Greivis Vasquez. The Terrapins are 0-4 in their last four neutral site games. The Cougars are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as an underdog.

4 Unit Play. #852 Take Texas A & M over Utah State (Friday 4:55 pm CBS) The hidden game on Friday takes place in Spokane, WA between a pair of Aggies. The Utah State Aggies have an incredible home court advantage but they are just a so-so team on the road. That is evident by the fact the beat New Mexico State by 18 points in Logan on March 6th but lost to that same team on March 13th in Reno in the WAC Tournament Championship. A & M finished 23-9 on the season but they did not record a bad loss this year. In fact all nine losses came against NCAA Tournament teams. A & M is led by 6-3 senior Donald Sloan who is averaging over 18 points per game. Utah State has not won a game in the NCAA Tournament since 2001. Texas A & M is 10-2 ATS in their last twelve games overall.