4 unit bet (Saturday 2:40 pm ET)

James Alberino

 

This should be really close and both teams match up very well with each other. Oregon State can win the game and this looks like the type of game that will have multiple lead changes under the 10 minute mark with the game slowing down late and every point mattering. Oregon State has everything matchup wise to defend Loyola well – Roman Silva’s length will be tough on Krutwig, Alatishe can help protect the rim, and Oregon State’s guards play so connected on defense and the help defense on this team over the last month is some of the best in the country. In the five games since the Pac 12 tournament started Oregon State’s holding teams to 25% from three and that was against Oklahoma St, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA, and Tennessee. Oklahoma State shot 28% from the field. If Loyola’s missing more threes than normal then Oregon State can play more possessions against their defense not setup after a make. Oregon State rebounds very well. Wayne Tinkle should have his guys ready – they’re not just happy to be here they’re on a special run and have implied a few times in press conferences that being picked 12th out of 12 in the Pac12 preseason polls has fueled them. Also with the Pac 12 covering almost every single game in the tournament so far it’s probably time for the country to stop bashing and start respecting a conference who plays when most of them are sleeping. Oregon, Colorado and Oklahoma State are three really good teams and Oregon State just beat all three of them. Loyola’s very good but there’s definitely a Sister Jean/Loyola Chicago tax on this line of about 1.5-2 points and the Catholic church in the state of Illinois would have enough to renovate all of their rectories with this tax. Oregon State’s on a 15-3 ATS run as a dog since January 16th and one of those losses was on a fluky, last second bank shot by USC that several of us shouted obscenities at the television afterwards. This should be a great game and if Oregon State can win this one there’s a good chance we’re going to see a 12 seed in the Final 4.