Based on Hofstra’s history, what would you put your money on: The Pride not making another tournament appearance until 2051 or Speedy Claxton winning the national championship by 2041?
Michigan State (-4.5) over Louisville
Even if Mikel Brown Jr. suited up, the Cardinals would still be overmatched and get pushed around by the bigger, stronger Spartans, led by 6-foot-10 senior Jaxon Kohler.
Without the soon-to-be top 10 draft pick, the Cardinals’ issues against top-tier teams (0-6 against top-six seeds this season) are certain to continue, while Michigan State is 5-2-1 against the spread (ATS) against ranked teams this season.
Pat Kelsey is coming off his first career NCAA Tournament win.
Tom Izzo can clinch his 16th appearance in the Sweet 16.
TCU (+11.5) over Duke
Don’t shrug off the Blue Devils’ struggles against No. 16 seed Siena, in which Duke became the eighth No. 1 seed to win their first round game by six points or less.
Three of those No. 1 seeds lost in the second round. Another two barely survived.
Duke may have the best player in the nation in Cameron Boozer, but the team is not the same on either end without Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba.
And the Horned Frogs’ top 25 defense won’t make it easy for Duke to get back to the Sweet 16, most recently shutting down Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer (Bruce Thornton).
TCU has stood toe-to-toe with the top teams in the nation — claiming wins over Florida and Iowa State, plus a four-point loss to Michigan — and is 10-3 against the spread as an underdog, while winning 10 of its past 12 games straight-up.
Saint Louis (+12.5) over Michigan
No team would want to play the Billikens after their 35-point beatdown of Georgia, but Saint Louis still has room to grow after the nation’s second-best 3-point shooting team (40.2 percent) shot only 9-for-28 in the first round.
The Wolverines perimeter defense could allow the mid-major to make the most of this opportunity, ranking 332nd in the nation in 3-pointers allowed per game (26.6).
It allowed Howard to keep it close for a half.
It allowed Wisconsin to sweep the season series.
And if the 3-pointer isn’t falling, Saint Louis can hang around with a defense that leads the nation in field goal percentage allowed(38.4).
Betting on College Basketball?
Gonzaga (-5.5) over Texas
The Longhorns have won back-to-back games, but their third game in five days doesn’t feature another slumping No. 11 seed or a No. 6 seed entirely dependent on one player.
Mark Few is 9-1 in his past 10 appearances in the Round of 32, and his senior-heavy squad is built to make another trip, taking on Texas’ shaky defense.
The Longhorns made it this far by dominating the glass, but Gonzaga’s rebounding rate is even better, giving Texas even fewer looks against the Zags’ top 10 defense.
Texas is 0-4 against teams with a higher rebounding rate and 1-5 against top 4 seeds this season.
This season: 6-8
2011-25 record: 403-371-12
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Howie Kussoy has long been the New York Post’s main handicapper in college basketball (since 2011) and college football (since 2013).
