in NCAA B Articles

I genuinely believe this game will turn out to be a down-to-the-wire affair that will come down to the last possession of the contest.

#2 Memphis (32-3)
Second-seeded Memphis (32-3) is arguably the hottest team in the country and plays a frenetic brand of basketball that usually leaves their opponents exhausted by the middle of the second half.

Although the Tigers don’t have a dominant go-to scorer, I like the fact that Memphis shares the ball offensively as well as any team in the nation.

Ten players average at least 8.2 minutes per game and at least nine players average 4.5 or more points per game. Individually, those numbers may not exactly leap off the page, but combined, they are overwhelming.

The Tigers’ best offensive player, or should I say most consistent, is sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who averaged 15.4 points per game in the regular season.

Douglas-Roberts is complimented by a nice group of versatile and athletic perimeter players. Senior guard Jeremy Hunt averages 14 points per game and junior forward Joey Dorsey could turn out to be the difference-maker in this game.

If the Tigers rebound the ball the way they are capable of, and play to their strengths, specifically the hectic brand of basketball that has made them so successful this season, they could end up moving on to the Elite 8.

#3 Texas A&M (27-6)
The Aggies have the most clutch player in the country in All-American Acie Law IV. The left-handed Law reminds me a bit of Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald – he is just as unstoppable - the only player to ever lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season. Law may get all of the attention for the Aggies, but he has not gotten the Aggies this far alone.

Frontcourt player Joseph Jones is talented and can come up big on occasion. Josh Carter and Lithuanian Antanas Kavaliauskas can also stroke it from the perimeter, and Kavaliauskas is playing his best basketball of the season.

My Pick: I like Memphis to win this game outright over a good Texas A&M squad. The Tigers are just too talented and too deep. There is no other team in the country, barring North Carolina, which can equal their depth.

Of course, if this game comes down to a last shot or last possession, I’m going with Acie Law to win. As much as I’d like to see Law reach the Final Four, it’s not going to happen. Take the Tigers to maul the Aggies in this one and you’ll be a happy camper come pay-up time.

Thursday, March 22 -- Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX – 07:27 AM EST

NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Memphis 87 Texas A&M 81
Result: Memphis 65 Texas A&M 64

Go to the BetUS.com action!