Friday Afternoon Brackets

Nice job, BYU. Good effort. OK, moving on. Just found time to get to a computer, so getting these in as quickly as possible:

Stephen F. Austin +11.5 +101, 2 units to win 2.02 units

With all the press that Syracuse has gotten lately, shouldn't this line be moving toward 20, instead of toward 10? Really, this line is fishy as hell. Big support for the Cuse as expected, but that line is going the other way. Pomeroy has Austin ranked as the #13 defensive team in the country (defensive efficiency). Not in their conference, not among mid-majors, in the country! I would have never guessed. That is insanely good for team in the Southland Conference. If the Orange showboaters decide, as usual, that they would rather go for the highlight reel plays instead of the smart plays, it's going to be a long day for them.

Cornell +12.5 -108, 2.16 units to win 2 units

Public big on Mizzou, but line not going that way today. Cornell has everything you want in an underdog trying to get the cover. They can score, averaging 74 points per game, and they can shoot (48% FG%, 42% 3pt%, 73% FT%). They even have decent size for an Ivy school, and Jeff Foote is Exhibit A. Foote is 7-0 and averages 12 points and 7 rebounds per game, so he's not just a big stiff. Because they have a couple of big bodies, they haven't lost before the game even starts, like Chattanooga vs. UConn yesterday, due to matchup problems. Go Big Red.

Back later with tonight's picks.