Oregon State came up with a superb season before it leaves those old rivalries behind, and they’ve done it with defense. Four of their past six opponents haven’t broken 60 in regulation, and the exceptions were both Stanford. Notre Dame also knows how to play that way, although it’s not the Irish’s preference.
Since its 2015 World Series title, Kansas City’s had more 100-loss seasons (three) than non-losing seasons (two). That said, there’s always a chance at the playoffs when you play in AL Comedy Central, as the Twins won this division with just 87 victories last year.
Welcome to my Quick Picks column, where I hand out winners, winners, and more winners every day. I fire off picks on everything from college hoops to the NHL.
Opening Day is here for Major League Baseball, except for the Dodgers and Padres, who played a series in December or something, and everyone is alight with excitement. Can the Braves grab another championship? Will the Dodgers move on from the Shohei scandal? Are the Oakland Athletics a real team?
The regional semifinal gives us a rare rematch of the national title game — and this one might not be as close as the previous one. Connecticut appears better than it was a season ago, while San Diego State isn’t quite where it was last year.
They must travel a similar distance to play at TD Garden in Boston, but both should have plenty of time to adjust. They will be the final game on Thursday, scheduled to start at 10:09 p.m. EST on TBS and truTV. The clash of two styles should make an exciting, action-packed game.
In consecutive years under Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have been dismissed by teams that slow the pace and force them to grind.
And that’s a perfect description of Clemson. The Tigers give up plenty of shots, but they hold teams under 40% with a defense that ranks 13th nationally.
Can the books actually find a number that Alabama can’t reach? They’re certainly going to try, as the totals have now reached an insane 173.5 at DraftKings. There’s signs that might go even higher, so if you want the under, you’ll want to wait until five minutes before the tip.
Welcome to my Quick Picks column, where I hand out winners, winners, and more winners every day. I fire off picks on everything from college hoops to the NHL.