Fridays bracket buster package - 4.4* pod bonuses

[Pick Bot]

Northern Iowa +6 (4.4* NCAAB POD) NIOWA +225 (1.5* BONUS)
I think it’s a good thing the Panthers are on 1 day rest here while VCU is on 2 days.  They just came off a 1 point loss on the road as did VCU.  First things first we’ll talk about each team and the conference they play in for this bracket buster match up.  First of all Northern Iowa plays in the Missouri Valley where they play Creighton (2x), Wichita State (2x) both in the Top 25.  They also beat Old Dominion, a Colonial Conference on the road by 17 points to open the season.  VCU did beat ODU twice 61-48 at home and by just 4 on the road.  Overall comparing the two conferences and two teams and Northern Iowas is not only higher in the RPI 64 to 78, but they have had a much more challenging road in strength of schedule they are ranked 40th while VCU is ranked 211th.
 
VCU, a final four team last year lost a lot of that team so lets not get caught up in their 22-6 record.  Their conference is 16th in RPI and SOS while Missouri Valley is 8th.  VCU shoots just 40.7% from the field and 39.9% at home and 38.5% of their FGA are from 3. If Northern Iowa can turn this into a half court game they can win going away.  VCU is among the nations leaders in forcing turnovers because they institute that press but Northern Iowa is well capable of getting it up court and turning this into a “half court” game which is exactly what they want to do because they have more talent inside and out in this match up and they should have the advantage on the boards and FT line.  Northern Iowa is ranked 19th in turnovers per game in the nation.
 
Northern Iowa is also ranked 5th in allowing opponents to get to the FT line.  VCU shoots just 65.8% at home from the charity stripe and relies to get there 20 times. N. Iowa won’t let them again making it critical that VCU shoots well from 3 and forces turnovers.  I don’t think all of this is enough to justify a 6 point favorite.  I think most of the public is viewing VCU as last year’s final four squad and they aren’t that team.  They should have their hands full with Northern Iowa’s ability to score inside and out.  They are 24th in 3pt % 38.6% and have developed some of their younger players inside including Freshmen Seth Tuttle who is shooting over 65% from the field.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loyolla Marymount -6 (2.2* LNF)
I like the match up of Drew viney over Broekoff in this one, but also Loyolla Marymount just came off a win on the road to St. Mary’s and has by far the more challenging road here.  I think they win going away Valpo plays in the Horizon which is ranked just 15th in conference RPI while the WCC is 11th.  Valpo relies on 40% of their shots from 3 and Loyolla has great perimeter defense allowing just 28.9% at home. Loyolla likely won’t be in the NCAA tourney, but they are playing this game with a chance to get into the NIT.  Valpo’s road losses all came by big numbers, 9, 33, 9, 9, 18, 15, 18 and now they have to travel far to the west coast to play this game late.