Latest news with #AniwaniwaTait-Jones
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
3 Best Survivor picks (BYU!) for the first round of the men's NCAA tournament
3 Best Survivor picks (BYU!) for the first round of the men's NCAA tournament Tired of filling out bracket? Not content with betting moneylines or spreads? You're in the right spot. We're taking a different approach to March Madness, exploring the teams that are most likely to help you win your Survivor Pool. The first weekend of the NCAA men's tournament, as everyone knows, is utter chaos. So picking three teams to advance to the Round of 32 is much tougher than it sounds. For the purposes of these picks, we'll be using the rules for the USA Today Survivor Pool — which you can still join here! In simple terms: We want to pick teams that are going to win, but are low enough seeds to win your pool. Here's who we're rolling with in the Round of 64. No. 12 UC San Diego over No. 5 Michigan The name to know here is Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. The UCSD guard from New Zealand is averaging nearly 20 points per game and creates some fun mismatches thanks to his 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame. The Tritons haven't lost since January 18, which is partly why they're a popular upset pick this week. The other reason is because UCSD plays stellar defense. Look out, Michigan. No. 10 Vanderbilt over No. 7 Saint Mary's There maybe a little SEC bias in this pick, but while Saint Mary's has been a tournament darling for years, the Commodores deserve some respect. Vandy has signature wins over No. 6 Tennessee, No. 9 Kentucky , No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 14 Missouri — the last three of which occurred consecutively. No. 6 BYU over No. 11 VCU VCU is another popular upset pick in the Round of 64, but we're going to zig a little bit and stick with BYU. The Big 12 team had a stellar season, taking down No. 23 Kansas, No. 19 Arizona and swept Iowa State. KenPom ranks the Cougars as the 24th-best team in the nation with the No. 11 offense.
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds, picks and predictions
The No. 12 seed UC San Diego Tritons (30-4) and the No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines (25-9) meet Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver in an NCAA Tournament South Region first-round game. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. ET (TBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Tritons won the Big West Tournament championship with a convincing 75-61 win over the UC Irvine Anteaters, covering as a 5.5-point favorite as the total (136) pushed at most shops. UC San Diego is 13-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 15 games since Jan. 23. The Under is 3-0-1 in the past 4 games, and 6-1-1 in the previous 8 contests. UCSD G Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the Big West Player of the Year, led the team with 19.5 points (PPG), 5.5 rebounds (RPG) and 3.7 assists per game while hitting 57.6% of his field-goal attempts. G Tyler McGhie was a close second in scoring with 16.4 PPG. The Tritons are appearing in their first NCAA Tournament game. UC San Diego enters with a 15-game win streak, the longest active run in the nation. Playing at Ball Arena in Denver, with a capacity of 19,099, will be the largest venue the Tritons have ever played. Michigan won the Big Ten Tournament with a 59-53 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday, covering as a 4.5-point underdog as the Under (152) cashed. The Wolverines have won and covered 3 in a row, all as an underdog. Michigan is 0-2 SU in the past 2 as a favorite, while going 1-11 ATS in the past 12 games when favored. The Wolverines are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022, led by coach Dusty May. He took FAU to the Final Four in 2023, and C Vladislav Goldin was with him in Boca Raton for that magical run. In 2022, Michigan went to the Sweet 16, and it has made won 2 or more games in each of its past 5 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish against the Villanova Wildcats in 2018. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:31 a.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : UC San Diego +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Michigan -145 (bet $145 to win $100) : UC San Diego +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Michigan -145 (bet $145 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110) : UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! UC San Diego vs. Michigan picks and predictions Prediction Michigan 72, UC San Diego 67 MICHIGAN (-145) is worth playing if you're a little on the conservative side, and you're concerned about a close game with the Big West representatives UC San Diego (+118). The Wolverines stubbed their toe down the stretch with 3 straight losses to close out the regular season, but they're obviously steaming in with a ton of confidence after winning the Big Ten Tournament title. MICHIGAN -2.5 (-110) is laying a tiny amount of points for a 5 vs. 12 matchup, but traditionally, that's where we have had the most memorable upsets in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines are a dismal 1-11 ATS in the past 12 as a favorite, so there is a lot of concern. But, May and Goldin have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience, something UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) has none of. Michigan likely will get a scare, but it will do enough to survive and advance. UNDER 141.5 (-105) is worth a look in the nightcap in Denver. The total has gone low in 3 of the past 5 games for Michigan, while going low at a 9-6 clip in the previous 15 outings since Jan. 27. The Triton have cashed low at a 3-0-1 pace in the past 4 games, while going 6-1-1 in the previous 8 outings. UC San Diego allowed just 61.6 PPG, which ranked sixth in the nation, while allowing 39.6% from the field, ranking 12th. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
Associated Press
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Michigan and UCSD square off in opening round of NCAA Tournament
UCSD Tritons (30-4, 20-2 Big West) vs. Michigan Wolverines (25-9, 17-6 Big Ten) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wolverines -2.5; over/under is 142.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Michigan takes on UCSD in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines are 17-6 against Big Ten opponents and 8-3 in non-conference play. Michigan is fourth in the Big Ten with 16.1 assists per game led by Tre Donaldson averaging 4.2. The Tritons are 20-2 in Big West play. UCSD ranks sixth in the Big West with 23.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones averaging 4.1. Michigan makes 47.4% of its shots from the field this season, which is 7.8 percentage points higher than UCSD has allowed to its opponents (39.6%). UCSD averages 8.6 more points per game (79.8) than Michigan gives up (71.2). TOP PERFORMERS: Donaldson is averaging 11.6 points and 4.2 assists for the Wolverines. Vladislav Goldin is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. Tyler McGhie is shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc with 3.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Tritons, while averaging 16.4 points. Tait-Jones is shooting 58.9% and averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wolverines: 6-4, averaging 70.7 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game. Tritons: 10-0, averaging 78.1 points, 30.1 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 58.3 points. ___
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan and UCSD square off in opening round of NCAA Tournament
UCSD Tritons (30-4, 20-2 Big West) vs. Michigan Wolverines (25-9, 17-6 Big Ten) Denver; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wolverines -2.5; over/under is 142.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Michigan takes on UCSD in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines are 17-6 against Big Ten opponents and 8-3 in non-conference play. Michigan is fourth in the Big Ten with 16.1 assists per game led by Tre Donaldson averaging 4.2. The Tritons are 20-2 in Big West play. UCSD ranks sixth in the Big West with 23.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones averaging 4.1. Michigan makes 47.4% of its shots from the field this season, which is 7.8 percentage points higher than UCSD has allowed to its opponents (39.6%). UCSD averages 8.6 more points per game (79.8) than Michigan gives up (71.2). TOP PERFORMERS: Donaldson is averaging 11.6 points and 4.2 assists for the Wolverines. Vladislav Goldin is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. Tyler McGhie is shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc with 3.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Tritons, while averaging 16.4 points. Tait-Jones is shooting 58.9% and averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wolverines: 6-4, averaging 70.7 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game. Tritons: 10-0, averaging 78.1 points, 30.1 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 58.3 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness upset predictions 2025: Pick these early NCAA Tournament exits
The NCAA Tournament brackets are out, and there is a long list of matchups with upset potential on Thursday and Friday. As is usual, 5-12 games and 6-11 games will be the target of most upset nods. 5-seeds were 2-2 in 2024, and 6-seeds were 1-3. Since 2018, all 1-and-2-seeds have advanced to the second round in a season just twice. Last year, 3-seed Kentucky and 4-seed Auburn were the only teams upset among the top seeds. Will a massive upset happen this year? Here are our first-round upset predictions, updating throughout the night and into Monday. FINAL FOUR PICKS: March Madness Final Four predictions 2025: These teams could win NCAA Tournament First-round upset pick: 11-seed North Carolina over 6-seed Ole Miss in South Region The Tar Heels were given a break to make the NCAA tournament and will take advantage of their final chance. They will win their First Four game then carry that momentum to an upset over Ole Miss. First-round upset pick: 12-seed UC San Diego over 5-seed Michigan in South Region The Tritons have been one of college basketball's best stories this season, and they keep it going with their first-ever NCAA tournament win. First-round upset pick: 12-seed UC San Diego over 5-seed Michigan in South Region UC San Diego's Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones will be the star of the tournament's first weekend. Book it. First-round upset pick: 10-seed Vanderbilt over 7-seed Saint Mary's in South Region Vanderbilt has the firepower to beat Saint Mary's, and the Commodores may not stop there. Vanderbilt has taken down some of the SEC's best, and won't blink if it meets No. 2 Alabama in the next round First-round upset pick: 13-seed High Point over 4-seed Purdue in Midwest Region This Boilermaker team is far from last year's runner-up. The 13-4 matchup is the new 12-5. Yale, Grand Canyon and Akron could all pull off first-round upsets as 13 seeds. First-round upset pick: 11-seed North Carolina over 6-seed Ole Miss in South Region Who said The Tar Heels don't deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament? North Carolina not only wins a play-in game, but then knocks off the Rebels. First-round upset pick: 12-seed UC San Diego over 5-seed Michigan in the South Region Yes, Michigan won the Big Ten tournament and has a new coach in Dusty May that led FAU to the Final Four recently. However, this Michigan team is inconsistent and UC San Diego can win with its prolific 3-point shooting. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: March Madness upset predictions 2025: Pick NCAA Tournament early exits
