 This is covering the spread part of the fan dual podcast network We broke down the Thursday games the men's sweet 16 on yesterday's show It is time now to shift focus and break down the Friday games And who better to do so than John a rostine of CBS sports in the college hoops day podcast We're gonna pick his brain on everything going down this weekend We saw this past weekend and get you ready for some college hoops once again This is covering the spread right here on the fan dual podcast network and number fire calm My name is Jim saw this I am a senior writer and analyst for number fire joined here as mentioned by John a rostine Find him on Twitter at John rostine a very busy Twitter account these past couple of days We could find John and CBS sports and the college hoops day podcast John I know it is a crazy time of year for you between Coaching news between the tournament for sure, but I appreciate the time. How you doing today? Jim great to be with you man. This is March. We sleep in May. Absolutely. No sleep until then You're a busy guys. We're gonna get you on your way here in a second But I want to ask you how the opening weekend go, you know, it seems like there was a lot of fun basketball Did you take some time to actually get to enjoy things between all the madness? You know what March to me is like when and I'm not a fast person But it's like, you know when you kind of like do your sprinting on the treadmill and you're at nine or ten And you're giving it all you have. Yeah That's what it's kind of like until I get on the plane on that Tuesday after the national championship game from Houston You're constant constant constant moving moving moving and it doesn't stop and it's not going to stop but the hope is that when the national championship game ends and you get on that flight to go from Houston back to New York that you feel Like all of the major stories are done. You can come home. You can get a haircut You can take your dry cleaning in maybe you can reintroduce yourself to the gym So you get a little bit better shape and then maybe you can try to hope to have a beer or two Absolutely. Well, that's the goal as always. We're gonna try to see try to prognosticate Well, we can think about that Tuesday and break down the national championship futures and also talk about these Friday games as mentioned that If you want thoughts on the Thursday games in the NCAA tournament We talked about those with Dr. Ed Feng and the power rank on yesterday's show You can find that on covering the spread but also over on the fan dual YouTube page Let's start things off John though by taking a look back at this past weekend because we saw a lot of good basketball But also I think we could have some interesting takeaways from that opening weekend So when you reflect back on what we saw across the first two rounds What was your biggest takeaway about this year's field the parody that we expected to see really Resonating in a lot of different areas and you know I think the best way to encapsulate that is that we looked at FAU as a Cinderella Possibility before the tournament and FD FAU looked like Goliath because they were playing FD you beat ace one Seat and what was you know the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA tournament I think that and also the fact that Princeton a Program again that lost the Ethan right to Colorado because there's no fifth year rule to come back for in the Ivy League They lost obviously Jalen Llewellyn to Michigan off a team that didn't win the Ivy League And then they were able to go and win multiple games in the NCAA tournament That's an incredible accomplishment and they won Princeton did in two different styles against Arizona It was a vintage Princeton game. They dragged the opponent into the mud they obviously slowed down Arizona who was a potent offensive team and then against Missouri they put up over 75 points So it was what really a tale of two games for Princeton But it goes to show you just how incredible again this tournament is and you know, Jim, we know one thing too Three years ago. We all lost the NCAA tournament because of COVID Yeah, I think it's important because everybody is so, you know, look always looking forward to the next thing Let's just take a minute to and appreciate that we have it back even if it's been back for a couple years I mean, it's easy to appreciate it too when the basketball is so good But I think that it makes it even more important to have it that we have it at all So it's the two layers the great basketball the great stories combined in fact We have it at all that makes this year. I think especially important I want to go back to the parody discussion you were having Because when we look at the futures market right now over at Fandall Sportsbook, we have Alabama plus 320 Houston at 4 to 1 and They're not like Runaway favorites John but like there is a gap between them in the field when you look at the parody We saw them at opening weekend Do you think that that discussion also applies those two schools or is it more so the parody behind them is the big thing Heading forward. I mean the parody behind them Jim. I think that's the interesting thing like Alabama is a really really good team I don't see 2015 Kentucky there I don't see towns and Booker and the Harrison twins and Tyler Euless Houston is a really really good team Houston was a team though that was pushed by northern Kentucky and losing to Auburn at the half So everybody's vulnerable in this NCAA tournament. Yeah, and I think that that's important to see here Is we again haven't seen things shortened too much Houston was five to one at the start of the tournament now four to one part of that's because Sassner looking fully fully healthy in those first couple of games. They did appear vulnerable a bit Alabama has shortened quite a bit. They've been impressive. Their path is pretty good at plus three 20 When you look at the hierarchy John, do you feel as though Alabama Houston are a full tier above the field basement? We see no no Again, I don't expect this to happen I picked Houston in Alabama to win their next games But if you and I are talking on Saturday and say hey Do you believe Miami's in the elite eight and San Diego States slowed down Alabama and won 60 to 57? I wouldn't be shocked. Sure. This is college basketball in 2023 and here's one big thing you have to look at This is not a seven-game series. This is a one-game tournament in terms of elimination San Diego State has seven seniors and two juniors That is a big thing to keep an eye on when they go toe-to-toe with the crimson tide who again I think have this highest ceiling out of anybody left in the NCAA tournament So it sounds like things are wide open even at the top here for the final couple rounds of the NCAA tournament Let's take a look here. We're gonna break down the Friday games more in-depth John But I didn't want to give you a chance to talk about the Thursday games Anything stand out to you when you look at the Thursday games across the sweet 16 Well, I think you know Yukon has a distinct advantage over Arkansas Inside with Klingon and Sonogo Arkansas is going to have to go over the top of Yukon's defense to win in this game But Arkansas and its first two NCAA tournament games Just six of 26 from three-point range I look at the matchup obviously between Michigan State and Marquette and I've said this time and time again Michigan State this year reminds me a lot of the 2015 run that they had with Travis Trice to the final four as a seven seed Tom Izzo has told me multiple times in talks We've had over the years that you know He believes that when things are really balanced in college basketball Like they are this year like they were when they got to the final four in 2010 It makes you feel the losses a little bit more and what I mean by that is he talks to me all the time about 2010 because he's like Hey, we lost Katelyn Lucas to an injury in the NCAA tournament But we still got to a final four and there wasn't a great team in that final four He goes Butler was really good. They beat us by two Duke won the national title, but it wasn't a great team We had a chance to win it and we didn't win it So I look at Michigan State now as the team to watch in this region to get to a final four Which would be Izzo's ninth trip to the final four and again to compete for a national championship Yeah, Michigan State now currently actually a favorite over Kansas States over at Fandall sportsbook Michigan State One and a half point favorite Do you think that it's fair to view Michigan State as being a hair bit better than Kansas State for this opening that that Thursday game? Would because of Tom Izzo. Yeah, and I also love the fact that they play the two-point guards together with Hogan Tyson Walker You know so much has been made Jim about Tyson Walker's offense. He doesn't have a turnover in the NCAA tournament Yeah, absolutely, and that's gonna be a fun one to watch a Michigan State slight favorite over Kansas State But John thinks they could be in play beyond just that game as well. Okay. Let's talk about these Friday games Let's start things off in the South We got Alabama against San Diego State as you mentioned before wouldn't be a huge shocker to see San Diego State playing on Into the Sunday games Creighton playing against Princeton that great story there Creighton's a team you pinpointed back in December once they got healthy as a team that could make some noise And here they are on the second weekend. So looking at these two games in the South specifically John What stands out to you? How do you see these games playing out? Well, you know the South region is an interesting region because I said of the contrast you have in the first Game and then the great underdog situation in the second game. I'm taking Alabama and Creighton I'm taking Alabama to get to the final four. Yeah, Alabama right now in that game seven and a half point favorite against San Diego State Do you think that the gap is that large? Do you think San Diego State can keep things close and push throughout the entire game? What's your view with them in terms of how big that gap is if San Diego State has a chance to win this game It's going to have to be in the 60s It's going to have to be Comparable to what Princeton did against Arizona and also looking over to the other side of the bracket what UCLA is going to have to do Against Gonzaga. I don't think UCLA can be Gonzaga. The score gets above 70 Yeah, and Gonzaga we talked about this at yesterday a team that he likes as far as betting their money line potentially They're plus two and a half right now at Fando sports book as well And if San Diego State does slow things down keep the possession numbers lower That could be beneficial in terms of the spread but does sound like John favors Alabama there Princeton Crayton spread is nine and a half And you've talked a lot about this Crayton team as being a team that That you liked a lot early on I think they have justified that enthusiasm through their first two games How do they match up in your eyes with this Princeton team? It's a mental game right because Crayton is probably looking at this and says, you know We have a path to get to the elite eight the way that Princeton is going to have to beat Crayton Is going to have to be by minimizing turnovers, which is going to be difficult because Nemhardt and Alexander are so good at getting out and transition It's going to have to be by going over the top of Ryan Coughbrenner So they're gonna have to be a better offensive team than they were against Arizona and probably come more comparable to what they did offensively against Missouri and they're gonna have to stay in the game for the first 30 minutes the whole key to an Upset in the NCAA tournament is getting the favorite to be able to emotionally crack I think that happened a little bit by Arizona in the last three or four minutes of the game and we'll see what What you know goes on from there, but I think you staying in the game is obviously gonna be very important. Yeah, and I Think that with Crayton with the makeup of their team I think that that does make them pretty well suited in the situation as a nine-and-a-half point favorite against Princeton Okay, let's talk about the games in the Midwest We got Miami taking on Houston that spread is now seven and a half Texas against Xavier a four-and-a-half point spread so a little bit tighter between these two games here What do you see? Let's start things off with the Houston versus Miami game John. How do you think that one plays out? Great guard play nor Chad O'Mear has been dynamic on the offensive and defensive glass to start You know Houston is the tougher team Houston I think has you know more of an edge up front. I would give the edge to Houston now They've had some time to get healthier. Do you think that that plays into it? Do you think that they will come out of this and come into this game? I guess like as a more full team than they were in those first two rounds I think so. I think one thing we can't ever take for granted is the fact that you have a situation Where during the sweet 16 you get the extra four or five days to rest in the right rate And that's the one thing you're going to be a lot fresher for that first sweet 16 game And you work for your game in the round of 32. Yeah, absolutely You know that's one big thing to keep in mind Especially with this Houston team given all the moving pieces they have there So that's the factor there for them against Miami again that spread is seven and a half Xavier against Texas that spread is four and a half and this one seems pretty interesting of the Friday game It's probably the most competitive one. What are you seeing in that one? Well, Sean Miller is four and three in sweet 16 games in his career This is Rodney Terry's first sweet 16 game. You know, he's the coach of Texas He should be the permanent coach of Texas. Hopefully here soon He's done more than enough to receive that title depth to me Is a big key in this game that we know that Xavier's depth Disappated a bit when Jerome Hunter moved into the starting lineup for Zach Fremantle Texas is the deepest team in college basketball. Texas. I think has the best bench in college basketball So I give the nod to Texas because I picked them early in the tournament But in terms of experience in the second weekend Sean Miller has great experience from a coaching perspective, but Xavier's team does not we're talking about like modeling things out You can weigh separate things in a different way. So you can weigh offense defense, etc Etc all these factors. How much does your weight you apply to coaching shift the deeper we get into the tournament? I think you have to look at it really really closely And I think you know all these guys who are coaching right now Are league coaches. I mean you look at the West region the region of brands eric muslims eight and two In the last You know two nc double eight or less three nc double a tournament stan hurley's resume of building program speaks for itself McCronan's, you know coached in the final four Mark views coached in the final four So I think all these things You know come into play when you're talking about being in a situation to evaluate coaching at this level of the tournament So you need to look at a situation where zavier is a four and a half point underdog facing off against texas As you mentioned texas has the depth edge, but a lot of experience in that in that in that coaching staff Do you think that can bridge that four and a half point gap to make this game super? Obviously as you said you favor texas in this game Do you think that that keeps things competitive throughout the entire game? I think so. I mean look The one thing that I think you got to feel good about if you're zavier right now Suley boom has not played his best basketball in the nc double a tournament Suley boom is eight of 26 from the field in two of 12 from three and zavier is in the sweet 16 That's an incredible incredible feat when you think about the think about it And I also think You know we're still going to find out again What's going to happen with zavier defensively against dylan desu who has been one of the breakout stars of the nc double a tournament And dylan desu Again is somebody who could pose a real problem for jack nunji zavier is going to need to have jack nunji on the floor in this game Yeah, and you think about um, uh, if they have gotten to this point They have beaten quality opponents and are maybe not playing their best basketball yet That implies there is a ceiling they've not tapped into yet and that could be Beneficial as a four and a half point dog on friday. That's going to do it all for john rosting for today john Check him out on twitter at john rosting check him out on cbs sports find is College hoops day podcast wherever you get your podcast as well john I know no sleep just yet, but hopefully you could take some time to decompress across the next day or so Back in action once again tomorrow. Have fun and we'll talk to you again soon. We sleep in mac. Thanks, jim Alrighty again find john on twitter add john rosting want to thank you once again for swinging by for today As a reminder if you want to find the full breakdown of the thursday games find that over on the covering the spread podcast feed and Over on the fandall youtube page. We talked to ed about his thoughts on all of those games this march Protect yourself against upsets with bracket parley insurance on fandall sportsbook right now all customers get up to $25 back each day if your parley of three legs or more falls one leg short with a parley You can turn a small bed into a slam dunk and with cash out you're calling the shots You can close out your bet whatever You won't before the game is over just sign in to your fandall sportsbook account make every moment more fandall america's number one sportsbook must be 21 plus and in select states Bonus issued is not with reliable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt max bonus bet $25 per day unless otherwise specified Restricted supplies see terms at sportsbook.fandall.com gambling problem call 1 a hundred gambler Hope is here gambling helpline ma.org Or call 800 3 2 7 50 50 for 24 7 support in massachusetts in new york 1 8 7 7 8 hope and wire text open y fandall is offering online the sports waging in kansas Under an agreement with the kansas dark casino llc call 1 a hundred gambler or visit fandall.com slash rg in arizona 1 a hundred next step or tax next step to five three three four two In connecticut 1 8 8 7 8 9 7 7 7 7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in indiana 109 with it in y oming in kansas 1805 2 2 4700 or in kansas ks gambling health calm in louisiana 10877 770 stop in mariland md gambling health.org and in west virginia 1 800 gambler net That's gonna have things up for today here on covering this spread, but we are back once again tomorrow with tom ofecchio We're going to talk to him about some nba talk some nhl. We'll have some more college basketball talk Coming up on friday austin cast will be back with us. We're gonna talk to him About the saturday games in the elite eight So we'll be breaking down uh those games there So make sure you are subscribed to covering the spread wherever you get your podcast to get these as they're posted We'll also talk some nascar on friday's show as well big Thank you once again to john rostin find him on twitter at john rostin in the college hoops today podcast I am on twitter at jim sonnis j i m s a n n e s you can also follow the fan dual podcast network At fan dual podcast want to thank you all for tuning in for today. Good luck to you With your bets across the sweet 16 in the men's side. We'll talk to you all once again soon This has been covering the spread right here on the fan dual podcast network