Bracket Buster Top Ten from Triple Threat Sports

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Triple Threat Sports - 2/22/2008 4:53 AM

When the Bracket Buster started a few years back it was a great idea that provided a few games, most of which were interesting and meaningful. Since then the monster has for the most part swallowed itself whole as there are matchups within the 50 Bracket Buster games that even the most die hard college hoops fan would be hard pressed to watch. However, there will be some good games, and we have narrowed down the Top Ten here for you, complete with predictions in most cases. With our compliments to David Letterman, we will present these in descending order.

10) George Mason (19-8) at Ohio University (17-9) - 1pm Saturday, espn2
Bobcats face the much tougher in the MAC this season than GMU does in the Colonial, and will be very excited to host a team that was in the Final Four just two seasons ago. GMU coach Larranga knows the MAC as he coached in this league for quite some time. We call for a five point win for OU in this one.

9) Portland State (18-8) at Cal-Fullerton (17-7) - 10:30 pm Saturday, no national TV
Portland State is dominating the Big Sky and will almost absolutely be their regular season champion, thus getting the top seed and a great leg up in the quest for a Big Dance card. Fullerton is just a half game out in the Big West, making this (sadly) a Bracket Buster rarity, a game pairing two teams with legit NCAA Tourney chances. We call for a four point win for the home team.

8) Virginia Commonwealth (20-6) at Akron (19-7) -11am Saturday on espn2
The first of the Saturday Bracket Busters is one of the best, as it is the firm view of this writer that both of these leagues should garner more than one bid every single year. There is no doubt in my mind that Akron is a tourney team, but since there are two others in the MAC as well (Ohio and Kent) there is a very good chance the Zips will not make it. A win here over a 20 win VCU team would help, but the same can be said for the Rams, as a win in this would go a long way towards earning an at larage bid. Expect a close, hard fought game, and take the Rams if anything more than three point dogs.

7) Davidson (20-6) at Winthrop (18-9) - Friday 7pm, espn2
This is the lid lifter of the Bracket Buster and features two teams that fit the initial spirit of the event, both mid majors getting to play on a national stage. Winthrop had a new coach this year but is still way on top in the Big South, while Davidson continues to do what it does, make jumpers. Not going to make a forecast on this one, as it will very likely be part of our Late Phone Package for Friday.

6) Wisconsin Milwaukee (13-12) at Bradley (16-12) - Saturday 9pm, no national TV
UWM, formerly coached by Bruce Pearl, the Tennessee coach who has a pretty big game this weekend as well, are actually down a bit this year and are only fourth in the conference. Still, this is a program used to success, and they will be ready for this game. Bradley owns a win over Drake and should win this game comfortably on paper, but with a couple of critical MVC games on tap this week may not be fully focused here, and note that MVC teams actually struggle in this event spreadwise, as the linemakers give too much respect to this "power" mid major. Tough to call at this point.

5) Wright State (20-6) at Illinois State (19-8) - Sunday 6:30pm, ESPNU
These two teams are each the second best in their respective conferences, and that is saying a lot since the top teams are nationally ranked Butler (Horizon) and Drake (Missouri Valley). Have to lean with the Sycamores here as, Wright State is nearly unbeatable at home but rather vulnerable on the road, and ISU has a strong home court that further boosts their Power Ratings edge. Lay the points in this Bracket Buster finale.

4) Creigton (18-8) at Oral Roberts (19-6) - Saturday 3pm on espn2
There is a reason this one is on TV - Oral Roberts is GOOD! Our projected line on this tilt is ORU -5, but we would be surprised to see that, and actually could see ORU being a home dog based on public perception and MVC Bracket Buster bias. Take any points you can get with the Golden Eagles.

3) Nevada (18-9) at Southern Illinois (15-12) - Saturday 4:30pm on ESPU
In years past this would have been the headliner, no doubt about it, but both teams are down a bit this season, even though between them they have 33 wins coming into this game. Not sure where this line is going to fall, as the projections are for the Salukis to be anywhere from a five to a nine point favorite, depending on which Power Rating numbers are used. Interesting style contrast here with a wide open WAC team against the defenisvely tough Salukis. Tough to make a call since the line projections are so different, so we pass for now.

2) Kent State (22-5) at St Mary's (23-3) - MIdnight Saturday, espn2
Stay up and watch this one if you can, as this will be a doosy, as both of these teams are more than capable of winning one round of the NCAA Tournament, and with the right draw both could be Sweet 16 material. Early projections have the Gaels as close to double digit chalk, and if that is the case we are going with Kent State and the points.

1) Drake (23-3) at Butler (25-2) - Saturday 5pm, espn2
No surprise at the top here, as this is the first time in Bracket Buster history two teams in the top 16 of the polls will meet. These teams are eerily similar, as both can shoot the lights out and both defend well, so it will be an interesing battle to be sure. Hinkle Fieldhouse should be the difference for Butler in a seven point win!

Make sure you JOIN US for all of our Bracket Buster Direct Service Plays all weekend, and one of those days will have our Bracket Buster Play of the Year! Also on Saturday we are going to have at least a 4*, and probably a 5* or better, on the Tennesse vs Memphis #1 vs #2 matchup. We are having a good week in the college cage and will finsih up strong....JOIN US!!!

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