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2021 NCAA Tournament: Best bets for all 4 Opening Round games

By Daniel Benjamin

Michigan State's Gabe Brown, center, dribbles between Aaron Henry, left, and associate head coach Dane Fife before the game against Michigan on Sunday, March 7, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.210307 Msu Um 015a
Michigan State's Gabe Brown, center, dribbles between Aaron Henry, left, and associate head coach Dane Fife before the game against Michigan on Sunday, March 7, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.210307 Msu Um 015a /
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NCAA Tournament Norfolk State Spartans Steven Whitley Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Norfolk State Spartans Steven Whitley Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

West Regional: No. 16 Appalachian State Mountaineers (17-11) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (16-7),

Morning Line: Appalachain State -1.5 Over/Under: 133.5

The Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Norfolk State Spartans are meeting for the first time. Both teams earned an automatic bid by winning their respective conference tournaments, App State (Sun Belt) and Norfolk State ( MEAC). The Mountaineers are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000 and the third time overall, while the Spartans are “dancing” for the second time ever. This is the first time that each squad is playing in the first four-game.

Appalachian State, 35-26 under second-year coach Dustin Kearns, has won four straight games and five of six. App State uses a guard-oriented lineup that goes just six deep though all six are athletic and have the ability to score. While the Mountaineers are not good shooting teams, they do not turn over the ball, and they do a decent job on the offensive boards. However, App State struggles mightily on the defensive end, especially in the paint and on the boards.

Adrien Delph leads four players averaging double-figures with 13.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.  Michael Almonacy, Justin Forrest, and Donovan Gregory, who leads the team with six boards a game, are the other players in double-figures.

Norfolk State has now won at least 14 games in each of its last 10 years. Norfolk St. defeated Morgan State (71-63) in the MEAC championship game for the Spartans’ sixth straight game and eighth in nine contests. The Spartans are a deep, veteran-laden team that can up a scoreboard as they average over 81 points.

They shoot the ball well from beyond the arc, 37.4% clip, and get to the free-throw line while also protecting the ball fairly well. Norfork State is solid defensively though the Spartans struggled to guard the 3-point line during conference play and have had a difficult time all season with foul trouble.

Devante Carter leads five players at least eight points with 15.5 points, 5.0 caroms, and 4.0 assists. Joe Bryant Jr., the MEAC Tournament MVP, along with Jalen Hawkins, J.J. Mathews, and Kashaun Hicks, are other top contributors.

Pick: I would stay away from this game. However, I do find it very interesting that Appalachain State is now favored by 3.5 points, after initially being favored by 1.5. I think that this will be a very close and entertaining game with Bryant and Almonacy, who had a monster Sun Belt Tournament, being keys to their respective teams. In the end, I do like Norfolk State to advance 68-67.

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