NCAA Tournament Final Four Picks — Auburn vs. Virginia and Texas Tech vs. Michigan State

These are the condensed versions of picks for the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. There is a link to a deep-dive preview for Texas Tech vs. Michigan State. The confidence rating on a scale from 1 to 5 is in parentheses.

Note: The 5/5 does NOT represent the best overall pick of the day’s games when there are multiple games, simply the best pick of each individual game.

 

Mar 31, 2019; Kansas City, MO, United States; Auburn Tigers guard Bryce Brown (2) dribbles the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Reid Travis (22) in the championship game of the midwest regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 30, 2019; Louisville, KY, United States; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy (5) reacts after making a three-pointer during the second half in the championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers of the south regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia:

Side Prediction/Full Game: Virginia -6 (3/5) — LOSS!
Total Prediction/Full Game: OVER 131.5 points (5/5) — LOSS!
Prop Prediction/Full Game: Virginia OVER 69 points (3/5) — LOSS!
Prop Prediction/Full Game 2: Brown OVER 16.5 points (4/5) — LOSS!
Side Prediction/1st Half: Auburn +3.5 (3/5) — WIN!
Total Prediction/1st Half: OVER 61 points (4/5) — LOSS!
Prop Prediction/1st Half: Auburn OVER 29 points (3/5) — WIN!

Mar 28, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Matt Mooney (13) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Zavier Simpson (3) in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 31, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Cassius Winston (5) dribbles the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the championship game of the east regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State:

Side Prediction/Full Game: Michigan State -2.5 (3/5)
Total Prediction/Full Game: OVER 132 points (4/5)
Prop Prediction/Full Game: Michigan State 67.5 points (5/5)
Prop Prediction/Full Game 2: Culver OVER 10.5 rebounds and assists (4/5)
Side Prediction/1st Half: Michigan State -1.5 (3/5) — LOSS!
Total Prediction/1st Half: OVER 61 points (3/5) — LOSS!
Prop Prediction/1st Half: Michigan State first to 10 points (3/5) — WIN!

Day’s Record: 9-3-0 (.750)
Previous Day’s Record: 17-31-0 (.354)

NCAA Tournament Record: 155-176-7 (.469)

1-Star Pick Record: 0-0 (.000)          (0-0-0 (.000) in NCAA Tournament)
2-Star Pick Record: 0-0 (.000)          (0-0-0 (.000) in NCAA Tournament)
3-Star Pick Record: 5-1 (.833)          (96-102-6 (.485) in NCAA Tournament)
4-Star Pick Record: 2-1 (.667)          (32-44-0 (.421) in NCAA Tournament)
5-Star Pick Record: 2-1 (.500)          (27-30-1 (.474) in NCAA Tournament)

March/April Record: 267-262-11 (.505)

February Record: 156-168-4 (.482)
January Record: 173-146-4 (.542)
December Record: 86-62-5 (.578)
November Record: 81-91-6 (.472)

Season Record: 763-731-30 (.510)

1-Star Pick Record: 0-0 (.000)          (0-0-0 (.000) in March/April)
2-Star Pick Record: 0-0 (.000)          (0-0-0 (.000) in March/April)
3-Star Pick Record: 5-1 (.833)          (160-149-9 (.517) in March/April)
4-Star Pick Record: 2-1 (.667)          (55-69-1 (.444) in March/April)
5-Star Pick Record: 2-1 (.667)          (53-44-1 (.546) in March/April)

(Jarrett Culver photo courtesy Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports)
(Bryce Brown photo courtesy Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)
(Kyle Guy photo courtesy Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports)
(Matt Mooney photo courtesy Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports)
(Cassius Winston photo courtesy Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports)