Here are my predictions for the Round of 64 of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Thursday and Saturday First and Second Round games will be held at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Friday and Sunday First and Second Round games will be held at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Thursday, March 21st
(E10) Minnesota (21-13) vs (E7) Louisville (20-13)- 12:15, CBS: The Pitino Bowl! Richard Pitino coaching against his fathers former team is a huge story for a variety of reasons. Jordan Murphy is someone who can flat out rebound and defend, but he can't do it alone. Give me the Cardinals led by Jordan Nwora and Ryan McMahon.
Prediction: Louisville
(E14) Yale (22-7) vs (E3) LSU (26-6)- 12:40, truTV: This is a very popular 14 over 3 upset pick due to the fact the Tigers are missing their head coach in Will Wade and is bound to be fired amid the scandal after the season is over. The Bulldogs have a stud in Miye Oni, but not much else as the Tigers will get by thanks to Tremont Waters and Naz Reid.
Prediction: LSU
(MW12) New Mexico State (30-4) vs (MW5) Auburn (26-9)- 1:30, TNT: This should be a fun game between these two teams. The Aggies are a very good team led by Trevelin Queen and Terrell Brown. The Tigers are playing well right now and are led by Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Austin Wiley and that trio will lead them to the next round.
Prediction: Auburn
(W13) Vermont (27-6) vs (W4) Florida State (27-6)- 2:00, TBS: This should be one of the better 13/4 games as well as Yale/LSU. The Catamounts are led by a stud guard in Anthony Lamb, but he cannot do it alone so give me the Seminoles led by Mfiondu Kabengele.
Prediction: Florida State
(E15) Bradley (20-14) vs (E2) Michigan State (28-6)- 2:45, CBS: The Braves deserve credit for getting here because they were not been favored to win their conference tournament. Reality is, the Spartans are the way better team led by Big-10 Player of the Year Cassius Winston and Nick Ward.
Prediction: Michigan State
(E11) Belmont (27-5) vs (E6) Maryland (22-10)- 3:10, truTV: This should be a fun game. The Bruins had to win the play-in game against the Temple Owls to get here and this team is a worthy at-large led by Dylan Windler. The Terps have been an up-and-down team, but I really like Bruno Fernando as someone that can improve this draft stock in this tournament and he'll lead the Terps to the next round.
Prediction: Maryland
(MW13) Northeastern (23-10) vs (MW4) Kansas (25-9)- 4:00, TNT: The Huskies are a team that wasn't favored to win it's conference tournament, but got here courtesy of the fine play of Vasa Pusica. The Jayhawks are a team that's gone through some turmoil throughout the season with some injuries and departing players, but they'll survive this round led by Dedric Lawson, Devon Dotson, and Quentin Grimes.
Prediction: Kansas
(W12) Murray State (27-4) vs (W5) Marquette (24-9)- 4:30, TBS: This is the best game of the Round of 64. The Racers are team that had to win it's conference tournament to get here and it's led by Ja Morant, who's an absolute stud. Markus Howard is a stud for the Golden Eagles and they have other talent too with Sam and Joey Hauser. I really love Morant and I think he'll shine in this tournament as he leads the Racers to the next round.
Prediction: Murray State
(W10) Florida (19-15) vs (W7) Nevada (27-4)- 6:50, TNT: The Gators are a team that I feel should be in the NIT, although they have talent with Jalen Hudson, KeVaughn Allen, and Chase Johnson. The Wolf Pack are a loaded team that could do some damage with Cody and Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline leading the way. Caroline is not 100%, but they should still get by an offensively challenged Gators team.
Prediction: Nevada
(MW15) Abilene Christian (27-6) vs (MW2) Kentucky (27-6)- 7:10, CBS: The Purple Wildcats deserve a lot of credit for being here after winning it's conference tournament, but they are no match for the Blue Wildcats. PJ Washington, Reid Travis, Tyler Herro, and Keldon Johnson will lead the way.
Prediction: Kentucky
(S11) Saint Mary's (22-11) vs (S6) Villanova (25-9)- 7:20, TBS: The Gaels and Randy Bennett deserve a ton of credit for getting here courtesy of winning the WCC Tournament, but they are one seed line too high. The Wildcats are the better team led by Eric Paschall and Phil Booth.
Prediction: Villanova
(W16) Fairleigh Dickinson (20-13) vs (W1) Gonzaga (30-3)- 7:27, truTV: The Knights had to win the play-in game to get here, but there stay in the Big Dance won't last long. Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, Zach Norvell, and Filip Petrušev will lead the way to the second round.
Prediction: Gonzaga
(W15) Montana (26-8) vs (W2) Michigan (28-6)- 9:20, TNT: The best fifteen-seed in the field is the Grizzlies, but I don't see them pulling off an upset. The Wolverines are led by Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson, and Iggy Brazdeikis and they'll take them to the second round.
Prediction: Michigan
(MW10) Seton Hall (20-12) vs (MW7) Wofford (29-4)- 9:40, CBS: The Terriers are a great story this season and ending up on the seven line is great for this program and Fletcher Magee is a stud. The Pirates are playing very well right now led by Myles Powell and I like them to advance in what should be a great game.
Prediction: Seton Hall
(S14) Old Dominion (26-8) vs (S3) Purdue (23-9)- 9:50, TBS: The Monarchs have had a great season led by BJ Stith, but they'll be exposed by a better Boiler Maker team. Carsen Edwards has struggled of late, but he'll carry his team in this one.
Prediction: Purdue
(W9) Baylor (19-12) vs (W8) Syracuse (20-13)- 9:57, truTV: The Bears are a team that was hot for a few weeks, but stumbled into the dance. The Orange are a team that is more superior led by Tyus Battle, Bubby Boeheim, and Elijah Hughes. The team is missing Frank Howard for this one, but they'll get by an overrated Bears team.
Prediction: Syracuse
Friday, March 22nd
(S10) Iowa (22-11) vs (S7) Cincinnati (28-6)- 12:15, CBS: This should be an interesting game. The Hawkeyes are a team that has limped into the dance, but has talent with Luka Garza and Michael Baer. The Bearcats are underseeded led by AAC Player of the Year Jarron Cumberland will lead the way for a team that has a homecourt advantage in Columbus.
Prediction: Cincinnati
(S9) Oklahoma (19-13) vs (S8) Ole Miss (20-12)- 12:40, truTV: This game is one of the bigger toss-ups in the First Round. The Sooners are a team that has talent with Kristian Doolittle and Christian James. The Rebels are perhaps the biggest surprise in the sport this season with a new coach in Kermit Davis and good mix of players led by Breein Tyree, who will lead the Rebels to the Round of 32.
Prediction: Ole Miss
(W14) Northern Kentucky (26-8) vs (W3) Texas Tech (26-5)- 1:30, TNT: The Norse aren't that bad of a team that has the Conference Player of the Year in Drew McDonald. The Red Raiders are a team that is very well coached and has a stud in Jarrett Culver, who lead them to a rout.
Prediction: Texas Tech
(S13) UC Irvine (30-5) vs (S4) Kansas State (25-9)- 2:00, TBS: This is going to be some game. The Aneaters are a team that has talent with Evan Leonard and Max Hazzard and is well coached. The Wildcats are solid with Xavier Snead, Barry Brown, and Dean Wade. The latter is actually hurt and won't play in this game, so guess what? Give me the Aneaters for the upset!
Prediction: UC Irvine
(S15) Colgate (24-10) vs (S2) Tennessee (29-5)- 2:45, CBS: The Raiders are a team that won it's conference tournament and regular season title and has the Conference Player of the Year in Rapolas Ivanauskas. The Vols are loaded led by Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, and Kyle Alexander and they'll cruise here.
Prediction: Tennessee
(S16) Gardner-Webb (23-11) vs (S1) Virginia (29-3)- 3:10, truTV: The Runnin' Bulldogs are a team that wasn't even favored to win their conference tournament, so they deserve credit to be here. I don't see the Cavs losing to a 16-seed for a second straight year as D'Andre Hunter, Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and Jack Salt lead the way.
Prediction: Virginia
(W11) Arizona State (22-10) vs (W6) Buffalo (31-3)- 4:00, TNT: The Bobby Hurley Bowl! Hurley's team thrives in big games and he tends to excel in big games too. Remy Martin and Luguentz Dort are very good players and will shine. Hurley's successor Nate Oats has done an outstanding job and he's got himself a good team too led by CJ Massinburg, Jeremy Harris, and Nick Perkins and I love this team to win and advance.
Prediction: Buffalo
(S12) Oregon (23-12) vs (S5) Wisconsin (23-10)- 4:30, TBS: This should be a very fun 12/5 game. The Ducks (sans no Bol Bol), have been playing great led by Louis King and Payton Prichard. The Badgers are a team that has been Jekkyl & Hyde, but when Ethan Happ is on his game, this team could be really good. That said, the Ducks are peaking right now and I like them here to move on.
Prediction: Oregon
(MW9) Washington (26-8) vs (MW8) Utah State (28-6)- 6:50, TNT: This should be an interesting game. The Huskies are a team that won the Pac-12 regular season title led by Conference Player of the Year Jaylen Nowell. The Aggies are a team that won it's conference tournament and have the Conference Player of the Year in Sam Merrell. Despite being over-seeded, I like the Aggies to move on.
Prediction: Utah State
(E16) North Dakota State (18-15) vs (E1) Duke (29-5)- 7:10, CBS: The Bison got here courtesy of the play-in game and they don't stand a chance here. Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones will all step up as the Blue Devils win big.
Prediction: Duke
(S14) Georgia State (24-9) vs (S3) Houston (31-3)- 7:20, TBS: This could be a sneaky good game. The Panthers have a stud in D'Marcus Simonds who is capable of putting on a show. This Cougar team has been great led by Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis and they'll win this one.
Prediction: Houston
(E12) Liberty (28-6) vs (E5) Mississippi State (23-10)- 7:27, truTV: This should be a fun 12/5 game. The Flames are a team that is sneaky good led by Scottie James. The Bulldogs are in the tournament for the first time in a while led by Quindary Weatherspoon and I think this is a close game with the Bulldogs coming out on top.
Prediction: Mississippi State
(MW16) Iona (17-15) vs (MW1) North Carolina (27-6)- 9:20, TNT: The Gaels are a team that can score, but can't defend to save their lives despite how good of a coach Tim Cluess is. The Tar Heels are the by far better team and they'll blow the Gaels out led by Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye, and Coby White.
Prediction: North Carolina
(E9) UCF (23-8) vs (E8) VCU (25-7)- 9:40, CBS: This is an intriguing game between two solid teams. The Knights are led by Tacko Fall and BJ Taylor and it's a team that's defense first. The Rams are a team that's well coached and exceeded expectations this season and they have talent with Marcus Evans and Marcus Santos-Silva that's also defensive oriented. That said, Fall is the best player on court and he'll help the Knights advance.
Prediction: UCF
(S11) Ohio State (19-14) vs (S6) Iowa State (23-11)- 9:50, TBS: This is going to be a sneaky good game. The Buckeyes exceeded expectations this season and Chris Holtmann can flat out coach and Kaleb Wesson is a solid player. The Cyclones are a team that won the Big-12 tournament and it's led by Marial Shayok, Lindell Wiggington, and Taylen Horton-Tucker and I like them here to win and advance.
Prediction: Iowa State
(E13) Saint Louis (23-12) vs (E4) Virginia Tech (24-8)- 9:57, truTV: The Billikens are a team that had to win the conference tournament to get here and underachieved throughout the season. The Hokies are a team that's getting healthy at the right time with Justin Robinson coming back as he and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will lead the Hokies to the next round.
Prediction: Virginia Tech
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