OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has an NCAA Tournament free pick Thursday is on Arizona (+8.5) to Duke.
There is no doubting that Duke is a better basketball team than Arizona. That is an absolute hard-core fact. The Blue Devils have the potential to win the whole darn thing while the Wildcats are a squad that has somewhat overachieved and have the downside to get fully outclassed by 20 points tonight.
With the above said though and this game being on the west coast I’ll grab the number with a superstar in Derrick Williams and take my chances. I’m not all that impressed with the Pac-10 so Arizona did get through a poor conference but they still did get through it and still have a guy in Williams who can put the ‘Cats on his shoulders at any time. It won’t be easy against Coach K’s boys as this Duke team is really good but they also shriveled up a bit there against Michigan in that last game and are far from a perfect team, even with Kyrie Irving expected to get major minutes.
The game is being played in Anaheim which should be a little more of a comfortable setting for ‘Zona. I’m not exactly calling it a home court advantage as the Dookies always travel well but after just beating a quality Texas team and playing closer to home I’ll grab almost double digits and hope that Williams can be the stud that he is.
I don’t expect an outright but the Blue Devils are not a perfect team and therefore a competitive game is not outlandish in the slightest.
Top expert pick on this game: Arizona
For more information: I am hotter than the burning bush and hands down the best handicapper on this planet right now. Another monster burial last night with the 300,000* Pacers gutting out the 23 point victory as the underdog. Raising that bar today and going back to my bread and butter with a pair of college hoop winners. 400,000* Wisconsin-Butler plus a fourth straight 300,000* winner between UCONN and San Diego State. If you’re listening to anybody but yourself it better be me! Matt Rivers card is up now at OffshoreInsiders.com