Arizona Wildcats guard Kylan Boswell (4) celebrates with guard Caleb Love (2). Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

Look of the Day for Thursday, 3/21: No doubt, this one's a rout

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Mar 21, 2024 10:55 AM ET

Bobby Portis crushed his points prop on Wednesday night to cash our Look of the Day. With the first round of the NCAA Tournament getting underway on Thursday, you know we have to switch over to college basketball for our next selection. Let's get the madness going with our favorite pick for Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament.

Look of the Day: Arizona Wildcats -19.5 (-115 FanDuel)

Bettors might be hesitant to back Arizona after watching them lose to No. 15 seed Princeton last year, but this will be much different. The Wildcats are going to be able to name their score in this matchup.

Long Beach State is a severely flawed team that doesn't match up well with Arizona. The 49ers play fast (27th in KenPom's adjusted tempo), but that's exactly what the Wildcats want to do. The difference is Arizona is efficient on both ends of the court, while Long Beach State isn't. LBSU ranks 254th in effective field-goal percentage, 302nd in three-point percentage and 210th in opponent effective field-goal percentage. The Beach also turns it over 12.5 times per game and commits 17.5 fouls per game.

This is a nightmare statistical profile to go up against Arizona, which has shown the ability to blow out inferior teams this season. We're laying the Wildcats in what should be a rout.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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