Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on:

Michigan (minus 8) vs. Iowa.

Eastern Michigan was getting 6 1/2 against Akron and in double overtime lost 97-89. That is pretty bad but isn't the Bad Beat of the day.

That honor goes to Michigan laying 8 against Iowa.

The Michigan Wolverines led throughout on Thursday and by a ton. The game was really easy as Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims dominated from the get go.

John Beilein's team led 57-41 with four minutes to play but went silent offensively the rest of the way except for a pair of free throws with 24 ticks left on the clock. That 11-0 run for Iowa and game ending 11-2 run resulted in the 59-52 defeat but semi shocking late cover.



Your winners for Friday are on:

4* Illinois (plus 8 1/2) vs. Wisconsin.

3* Kentucky (minus 9) vs. Alabama.

A rare losing 1-2 Thursday despite narrowly nailing the big 4* on Georgia Tech.

Wisconsin is playing much better ball of late than Illinois and just smacked around the Illinis in Champagne. Bo Ryan's boys are as solid as a rock and a dangerous out in the upcoming NCAA Tournament but are overvalued right here.

Demetri McCamey can hang with anybody and keep his boys in the game. Both of these teams are as familiar with each other as any teams can be and in this third meeting this season will not be surprised by anything.

The Illini won the first meeting in Madison and despite losing a ton down the stretch and that last game against these same Badgers are fighting for their Big Dance lives so should be as pumped up and motivated as can be. The Badgers are obviously going to be in the field of 65 and are the better team on the floor but are still not a team that can run and gun and just be a big favorite like this.

Look for the defenses to dominate and after 40 minutes a tight, well played game that results in a four point Badger victory.



It's a decent amount to lay, ever, when not at home, but the Crimson Tide just had a solid comeback win over South Carolina yesterday and are going to be a little flat and tired today.

Kentucky is amazing with John Wall and Demarcus Cousins and others. The Wildcats are going to be fresher and just put the pedal to the medal here against a team they are much much better than.

KU is young and that could be an issue at some point in the near future but they are going to be a one seed no matter what so I'm not so sure that there is really all that much pressure on the Kentucky players here making this thing in the end a total woodshed beating.