Forum Blue And Gold

A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

March Madness at Forum Blue & Gold

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Here’s my dilemma: For only the second time ever, my alma mater Cal State Northridge made the tournament. So, I’m obligated to pick them to win a game.

Except, they drew Memphis, a team I want to have going very deep into the tournament. So now, do I pick the Matadors and hope I’m wrong about Memphis, or go with my head and just hope Northridge covers the spread?

This is a year filled with tournament dilemmas.

And we are doing a FB&G pool. Joining is free and the winner gets and FB&G shirt. And bragging rights.

Just follow this link.
Group Name: Forum Blue & Gold
Group ID#: 54708
Password: smushcalade

The better answer to my dilemma would have been to go to UNC for college….


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. J says

    Kurt,

    That’s easy. Place a bet on the spread and money line. A bigger amount on the spread.

    Since you’re going to be conflicted either way, this is the way to go. Memphis can win but you can root for Northridge to cover the spread and show they were “disrespected” but really belonged in the dance.

    If somehow Northridge wins, the ML payoff will be huge. The monetary rewards can help alleviate any suffering.

  2. nomuskles says

    how come I can’t put the Lakers into the final four? i don’t understand this march madness thing… !-.-!

  4. Kurt says

    J, here’s the real problem in my head:

    Northridge is one of those 15 seeds that stands a chance in the right set up. They play and aggressive defense, jump the passing lanes, break and shoot the three style. If they got a slow-it-down team they could throw off their game, it might work. Memphis though likes that uptempo style of play and are way, way better athletes and players. So Northridge plays right into the Memphis style. Now, Memphis is not the running team (by the numbers) that they were with Rose at the helm last year, so maybe I am reading this wrong from the snipits of the Tigers I’ve seen, but I think this is a bad matchup for the Matadors.

  5. Ryan says

    Kurt, I think Northridge drew a bad match up. I like Memphis going all the way to the final 4. I don’t crazier things have happened though. Just pick the upset I am picking Morehead St. to win it all.

  8. Brian P. says

    Re: Smush

    Saying playing with the Lakers is an overrated experience???? I am sure he would love to come back and he will ‘rate’ playing with the Lakers much much higher than what he is currently doing.

  10. Ryan says

    Bynum update:

    Link to video:
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-lakers-fyi16-2009mar16,0,5252234.story

    Bynum “I’ll definitely be back this season,” he said.

    “I went to get on the court and see what happens if I start trying to do some moves and things like that,” Bynum said. “I don’t have a [specific] date. I just know in a couple of weeks, hopefully, I’ll be able to participate with the team a little bit more in practice, and a week after that, I should be back in game shape.”

    He wants to start doing drills on the court this week which is good news, but he says that there is still a little pain with lateral movements.

    http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/15/bynum-gives-his-own-update/13409/

  12. Kurt says

    If I were going to bet one NBA game tonight: The Nets are on the second night of the LA-to-Denver back-to-back. The Lakers lost that one, the Spurs sat the Big Three in protest. Take the nugs, give the points (I have no idea how many, I haven’t looked it up).

  15. Go0db0i says

    Anybody get the sense that the Lakers, while confident in beating anybody in the West, are a bit nervous about facing Portland in the playoffs? And absolutely praying on a Dallas matchup?

  16. Nick the Great says

    I think my bias shows through the fact that I don’t have a single Big East team losing in the first round. That being said, the conference is rocking three number one seeds and two three seeds, so as long as Marquette and West Virginia don’t stumble… Also, I don’t have my ‘Cuse going further than the Sweet 16…

    Unrelated: Does anybody else like the Bulls over the C’s tomorrow night?

  17. wondahbap says

    Wow. Smush is funny. I guess playing in the NBA is overrated then. Seeing that our upgrade over him was one of the BIGGEST reasons of our renewed elite status, how could those words even come out of his mouth. Added to the fact that no team wants to give him a job. Bitter, Smush?

  18. SBCinAZ says

    Kurt, your ‘dilemma’ is exactly why I’ve always disliked betting on sports. Sure, I’ve enjoyed the occasional work pool over the years, but I HATE having to choose to root for/against a team I want to actually win the game based upon how it will effect my pool. There’s nothing worse, for me, than having my team win a game but lose a bet because they didn’t cover the spread or causing me to lose out in a pool.

    As for your dilemma, what’s the purpose of the pool? To pick who you think is *going* to win, not the team you *want* to win. Easy, pick Memphis.

    PS: I’d never pick my alma mater to win in a pool just because they’re my alma mater. (not that I’ve ever had to face that situation!)

  20. SB says

    My advice is to pick Memphis. You’ll be so thrilled if your team gets the upset that you won’t care about the pool. Also, Memphis is ridiculously good. I say that as a Cal alum that is anticipating getting hammered by the Tigers if we get past Maryland.

  22. J says

    Kurt,

    Yeah, usually when teams have identical styles, you have to go with the better athletes.

    Spread’s floating around 19 pts. I’ll have to see what the over/under is like. I’ll be in Vegas starting Wed afternoon. Plenty of time to scout out all the lines and see if I get a feel for some of the other games.

    Pro basketball is my favorite sport but March Madness rocks. Spending the first weekend of the tourney in Vegas is not a bad thing. But every year, it’s getting a little tougher bouncing back Monday morning and I’m usually on fumes by the last few games on Sunday.

    Getting old can suck sometimes.

  23. Jaybird says

    You heard it here:

    In the NCAA Championship game, the USC Trojans will defeat the UCLA Bruins, 68-59.