Stanford Steve

UConn will beat Illinois in a very close Final Four game

There's more trust for me in what UConn does... I believe UConn wins a really, really close game.

Arizona will beat Michigan in the Final Four

I favor Arizona. I believe Arizona can frustrate Michigan offensively... My favorite thing about Arizona is they don't care who scores. Whether it's Bradley or breweries... they're both really capable of a tidal wave.

Take the under in Arizona-Michigan — football stadium plus poor three-point shooting teams means a low-scoring game

Both teams get a lot of easy offense off their defense. Who has the bigger spurts in that? And they're not great three-point shooting teams, and now you're going into a football stadium. I think you gotta take the under.

The Philadelphia Eagles going 4-13 is the medicine the NFL world needs

I think the medicine everyone in the world needs, whether you root for the Eagles or you don't, is a 4 and 13 season for the Eagles. It'll be great for everybody because it'll manage the expectations for Eagles fans and then everyone else can remember what it was like back in the day when the Eagles were not a good football team.

UConn will win the Women's National Championship

I trust Geno [Auriemma] in this scenario. I think Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are that good and I believe they cut the nets down.

Duke cannot win the national title this year due to injuries and a lack of depth

Duke was not on that list... I took them off the list. They are currently off the list and will not be on the list. And I do not see Duke winning the national title. I really think the depth is gonna really hurt them when you look at this region alone.

The NCAA selection committee was lazy and stupid for putting St. John's and UConn in the same region

I absolutely hate the committee for doing what they did and putting St. John's and Yukon in the same region. There's three big East teams in the, in the whole thing and they put the desk two in the same region. That's just stupid to me. And it seems lazy and I I don't like it. The tournament is not for rematches.

Arizona, Houston, UConn, and Michigan are among the 11 teams that can win the national title

The list contains Arizona. Michigan. Houston. Yukon... Illinois is on the list. Kansas is on the list. Iowa State is on the list. Sparty on the list. Wisconsin has been on the list... Purdue because of their road, they are back on the list. I believe that's 11.

Arkansas freshman Acuff is a more advanced offensive college player than Allen Iverson was at Georgetown

Acuff, I look at him and I, I watch him. He's, he's the best offensive player in the country. And I, I'll say like he's a better college player than Allen Iverson was right now. Freshman year at Georgetown, Iverson, Acuff's more advanced offensively. He's a better shooter... and just athletically his build, he doesn't get knocked around.

Arizona has to reach the Final Four this year to end a long tournament drought

Arizona's sitting at 147th at 73.4% [free throws]. They have to go to the Final Four, guys. They need to have success in this tournament. They need to make Indianapolis. And I believe they will.

Betting first-half unders is the best strategy for the early rounds of the NCAA tournament

I have a theory about the first tournament games... I look at first half unders just because of their in arenas. The crowds aren't great. The shooting backdrops are different... it's been really good, but it's, I wouldn't say like it's been above 65%.

South Carolina and Texas are safe bets to reach the Women's Final Four

If you want an easy parlay, South Carolina and Texas to go to the Final Four. It's like minus one 15. But those two teams got easy tracks.

Miami should be ranked ahead of Notre Dame because they won the head-to-head matchup

I look at what matters on the field. They... actually played. Miami led the whole game. They won. I don't understand [them being ranked lower]. Miami should be ahead of Notre Dame.

Texas Tech can win the National Championship because of their defense

I am in the belief that Texas Tech can do it with that defense... Texas Tech is a 'yes' for me [to win a national title] because of that defense. They're going to be stretched where they haven't been stretched before.

The AFC playoffs will go through New England because the Patriots are the most solidified team in the conference.

I've been in the belief... that the home field [in the AFC] was gonna go through New England. I, I firmly believe that because of the schedule and seeing them in person Monday night. ... New England is more solidified and I would lean towards them getting home field.

Mississippi State will beat Baylor because Hubbard can shoot over the zone

I'll stick with the SEC. I'm gonna go Mississippi State. [Hubbard] leads, I think he shoots nine over nine. Threes a game and [Baylor] plays zone over 20% of the time and Hubbard will just shoot over it.

Take Colorado State to upset Memphis

I still think, you know, as a player, like I said, I, I have Maryland advancing anyway. I would just take the 12 here. So you have your 12 5.

UNC will beat Ole Miss because the matchup favors the Tar Heels' lacks of bigs

Carolina, you watch them and the biggest jarring thing, they don't have any bigs that are like pros... But Ole Miss doesn't have any bigs really either. So I love the matchup for Carolina here and yeah, it's probably a conference pride deal.

BYU is a legitimate threat to win the National Championship

BYU's a team that everyone's picking against, but they they were on the list. [PFT: BYU can win the national title?] Yes.

Take the under on Michigan State's team total

Michigan State. I look at their team total under, because they don't care how they win. They're like, alright, we know we gotta shoot some threes, but you know what, you're not gonna make threes. So we're gonna slow it down and make it methodical. But they're not interested in scoring high numbers.

Maryland is a legitimate threat for a deep tournament run due to their favorable draw

I really like [Maryland's run] because they know what they got... Willard's got plenty of experience. I just love their shotmaking, their guards are tremendous... I really like their draw. And at some point when you're a four, you play the one. Hopefully you get a week to prepare and you roll the balls out. I love the Terps.

Alabama and Tennessee are the two best bets to win the National Championship

I'll give you a they're on the same side. Alabama and Tennessee. I do feel different about Tennessee... they're better offensively. It's not even a question.

UConn and South Carolina will meet in the Women's National Championship

Women's picks... UConn and South Carolina to meet in the final. I believe it is plus 400. That list is way bigger than we've ever had it in the women's game. So I'm fired up.

The 2024 NCAA Tournament will produce the lowest-scoring bracket pools ever

I believe in bracket pools, this will be the lowest score or least amount [of points] ever. ... I think you're better off of getting out a team and riding that thing with a future... I think this bracket pool... it's impossible.

Wisconsin will make the Final Four

I have Wisconsin in the final four, Dan. I do, I do. I love what I've seen from them. I think Storr is an absolute difference maker. Chucky healthy is... I genuinely feel this team has the goods.

New Mexico is a better team than Clemson and will win their first-round matchup

I like New Mexico. ... I think New Mexico's playing as well as anybody. Their ability from the three-point line... they got some young bigs that are good. ... I believe they're a better team [than Clemson]. ... We're gonna go New Mexico, A&M, and UAB.

Grand Canyon will defeat Saint Mary's because Tyon Grant-Foster is a legitimate pro

Grand Canyon is really interesting. ... St. Mary's, Jefferson injury's been huge for them. ... Tyon [Grant-Foster] on the kid for Grand Canyon is a pro. If you haven't seen him, I think he's gonna be a name that you're gonna know for sure. ... I would pick Grand Canyon in that one.

Northwestern will defeat FAU because they will make enough outside shots to counter the 'public' pick

I think Northwestern will make enough outside shots and I like being on the other side of the public in that one. ... I do have Northwestern playing UConn [in the next round].

Houston has the toughest second-round matchup of any 1-seed

I think Houston has the toughest matchup when it comes to second round games for the one seeds... Houston just because they're not healthy and, and the way they play... and A&M has guys that can score some buckets and, and so does Nebraska.

The Boston Celtics will not win the NBA Title

[PFT: Are Hank's Celtics gonna win the NBA title?] No. I want it to be Denver Boston, because that's what I want in the NBA... But I don't see Boston [beating Denver].

UConn will defeat Tennessee to win the National Championship

My final four... I have UConn, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. [PFT: Who do you have in your finals?] UConn, Tennessee... And then UConn winning it all.

Kansas received a much better tournament draw than Houston

Houston is the one in the Midwest. They are playing in Birmingham. If Auburn beats Iowa, they are playing Auburn in Birmingham, Alabama. That's not gonna be fun for a one seed. So when I look at that... I think Kansas got the good draw as opposed to Houston.

I'm officially crossing Virginia off my list of national title contenders

I have not eliminated anybody. ... But when I go down and look at Teams to win the title that I would say, I think I have to cross off Virginia. I just can't... you know what they look like Saturday night against Duke.

Oral Roberts will beat Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

And this is what I'm talking about with the recency bias. Everybody just sees that and they're like, all right, [Duke is] hot. They, they've won nine in a row. ... I have them losing the Oral Roberts in the first round.

No team from the ACC will reach the Sweet 16

ACCs definitely at the bottom. I don't, I don't see anyone making the Sweet 16 from the ACC.

Texas A&M is the lowest-seeded team with a legitimate chance to win the national title

I have A&M and they got the worst seed of any team. I think so. I would guess A&M... lowest seed that has a chance to win the national championship.

Kansas State will cover the spread against Montana State in the first round

I do like Kansas State. Montana State is a team... I don't think much of Montana State's offense. And I just like what Kansas State brings to the table. I think it's under double digits. ... I lay the points with Kansas State.

Iona will keep it close and cover the points against UConn

I would lean towards Iona plus the points [against UConn]. I think UConn wins, but it's gonna be tight. And the thing about UConn... this coaching staff hasn't won an NCAA tournament game. There's a lot of pressure on them.

I'm betting the under on Maryland vs. West Virginia

Maryland, West Virginia that opened at one 40. I took that under, it's already down to like 1 38 I think.

Michigan State will make the Final Four

I have mayhem in that bracket. I, like I said, I have Michigan State going to the Final Four there.

Texas Tech will beat Duke because of their toughness and experience

Really like Texas Tech in this situation because of the experience toughness. And I think they could just make Mike [Krzyzewski] crumble of being with the youth and inexperience.

Villanova is the most dependable team in the tournament

I just think Villanova, like they're the most dependable tournament team year in and year out... they make all their free throws. They never ever wavered. They're so, so dependable... we have the best free-throw shooting team in Villanova.

St. Peter's will cover the double-digit spread against Purdue

I saw a stat... the last two 15 seeds to go to the sweet 16... Florida Gulf Coast and Oral Roberts... they both covered double digits. Lean St Peter's.

Fill out a bracket when it comes out, then bet against it once the games start

As soon as the bracket comes out, you have to fill out a bracket and stash it away until right before the games are out... You just fill out a bracket without everybody saying right at that point. And then you put it away till Thursday and then you bet against it. It really works out a lot of the time.

Bet on coaches who have high ATS (against the spread) records in the NCAA Tournament

How about coaches' records against the spread in the tournament? You know, I look at a team like Syracuse... But USC's head coach, Andy Enfield, you remember him back at Florida Gulf Coast, 7-0 all time against the spread in the tournament. 7-0.

The Syracuse zone will be a nightmare for opponents due to the lack of non-conference play

Syracuse is a team, especially in a year like this, where nobody really played out of conference games, that zone can be an [motherfucker] to you... I think they have athleticism... Them and matching up with West Virginia in the second round is a really, really interesting game.

Baylor will beat Gonzaga for the National Championship

I have Baylor beating Gonzaga [in the final]. I actually had a bet on Baylor. I think they were getting four against Gonzaga... I think when you watch Baylor, they just have it all to me.

I would take Trevor Lawrence over Joe Burrow right now

I'm getting killed also, too, because I would take Trevor Lawrence over Burrow. What he showed in that Fiesta Bowl, the amount of times he got hit... the Clemson has the goods.

Bo Schembechler does not belong in the top 20 college football coaches of all time

Look at Bo Schembechler... go back and look at his record in bowl games. I think he coached in 10 Rose Bowls. You know how many he won? Two. Two and eight. But he's a god... Schembechler in the top 20 is not right.

The solution to Miami's football struggles is to hire a massive cheater and pay more money to players

Miami is a really easy problem to solve. It's like just let them cheat. Just hire the biggest possible cheater. Pay more. All the time. Find another guy that's got a Ponzi scheme going there and let him run the program again.