Nick's West & Midwest Region Picks

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178.591.32

They're gonna play it out.

Bradley, trying to do it himself.

Now, back to you better, you bet with Nick Costos and the crew,

presented by Bet MGM on Westwood One Sports.

I have a thought experiment.

A dance showman on the call in the Big 12 tournament.

The shot to beat Iowa State Center Arizona to the final,

where they would beat Houston to win the Big 12 conference tournament

after winning the Big 12 regular season.

My thought experiment would be, should we try taking, for example,

Kenny, you can just type in the chat.

He's not dead.

He's not alive.

He's going to be fine.

Kenny, do we still have the Shah Misharaniah

explanation of Cade Cunningham's injury of the collapse lung?

We still have that, right?

I would love for you, Kenny.

This is what I want to do.

Stop the music.

Hit the music.

Fade it down and play the Shah Misharaniah.

Let's see if my theory of the NCAA tournament's CBS jingle

can make anything sound happy, even if it's not happy.

So we did music.

Cade Cunningham injury announcement.

And again, Cade's not dead.

He's going to be back probably for the start of the playoffs.

Go ahead.

Sources tell me that Detroit Pists and Superstar Cade Cunningham

has been diagnosed with a mild collapse lung.

And he's expected to miss an extended period of time.

Dun, dun.

Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun.

All right.

Tyler and Kenny are with me as we continue filling out the bracket.

Let's go to the West region gentlemen for Mike and Dan for people watching the show.

On YouTube, Twitch, etc.

Thank you very much.

So West region, which is the Arizona region of the NCAA tournament.

Pod Numero Uno.

I don't know if anyone's going to have L.I.U beating Arizona.

If you do credit to you, also you'll lose.

I like Utah State a little bit over Villanova.

I base that on nothing.

Tyler and Kenny, any opinions on Utah State Nova?

No, I just advanced Villanova because I'm against all the Mountain West teams usually in the first round.

So I advanced Villanova in Arizona.

I've got Utah State for two reasons.

One location.

They're playing much closer to home.

The other one, Villanova is missing one of the best players.

And I guess Utah State's been playing much better basketball down the stretch.

Okay.

So I'll, I'll, I'll side with Kenny here.

For no other reason, just like I kind of liked Utah State.

I have no strong opinion on the game.

We'll invent whoever wins will get annihilated by Arizona.

So Utah State over Villanova.

The next pod.

Let's get a little crazy, right?

The five seed Wisconsin against the 12 seed high point and the four seed Arkansas against 13 seed Hawaii.

Now for bracket purposes, for brackets, we'll talk about bets in a second.

I want to advance the two, the five and the four Wisconsin and Arkansas.

With that being said, I have bet high points, both to cover and money line.

So high point both to win and to cover against Wisconsin.

For brackets, I want to advance Wisconsin.

And Arkansas Hawaii, like a wheel advance Arkansas, obviously.

Is there a world where Hawaii keeps this game interesting though with the style of defense?

They play Tyler.

I think there's so they basically run a no help of defense.

They don't help.

They don't switch.

It's just like man on man, which is a little concerned and going against like Darius Acuff and Malik Thomas,

who are two like the best one on one players.

But like Calipari teams have lost the worst teams before.

And I feel like this is like a weird defense that we don't see that could break the freshman's brains of Malik Thomas and Darius Acuff.

So I do like Hawaii against the point against the spread.

But I tell you honest, I want it to advance high point.

I think they're going to win the game.

I love them. I bet them.

They're my favorite bet of the first round.

Kenny.

Yeah.

I will.

I'm not going to go there.

I like high point plus the points.

I think it's going to be a very high scoring close fun game.

I go to overtime.

Maybe I'll bet overtime in that game.

That might be.

I'll definitely bet high point plus the points.

But I might have an overtime bet on Wisconsin high point, both teams score a ton of points.

Kenny, you got later today in Tyler.

Will you guys be high for high points?

Always.

Yes, sir.

Well, actually, no, it's it's 150.

I'll be doing stuff with the show.

But afterwards what I watch highlights.

I can't get Tyler will be high for high point after the game.

But game to go to overtime.

I have it up here at Ben MGM Wisconsin high point.

Plus a thousand.

Go to overtime.

Maybe we're at the sprinkle.

Not for me, but maybe from Kenny.

All right.

We go to the bottom half of the West bracket.

I'm taking Texas to beat BYU.

It's like, I agree with what Brad Evans said on the show last week.

I think BYU is going to be one and done on the tournament.

Texas was Sean Miller, the tournament experience.

Texas over AJ DeBonsen BYU.

And I think Gonzaga might be Ken.

I laid Gonzaga tonight.

I think Gonzaga might win like 85 to 55 against Kennesaw.

I love Gonzaga.

I wish they were in Arizona's region.

I think they can make a real run here.

They're just completely different.

I think the normal.

But I agree with you.

Texas Gonzaga.

I think that BYU game could be a little close.

But I'll advance.

I'm going to go with Vincent Texas.

I love Gonzaga.

I've got BYU here.

I'm not going against DeBonsen.

I know that their Richie Saunders is out.

And they haven't been playing great ball.

But I think DeBonsen has a big game tonight.

And BYU at least gets past Texas.

Let's see.

Just for bleeps and giggles.

Let's go to this game here on Ben MGM.

So BYU Texas.

Do you guys know what AJ DeBonsen is?

Yeah.

But maybe it's a bit of a hard fight for Bbonsa's point

over under his for today.

I guess like 27 and a half.

26 and a half at Ben MGM.

Yeah.

That's amazing.

I think he wants to do.

Yeah.

I mean, how do you not go over?

Especially when he'll go home game?

How does he get take every shot?

Uh, DeBonsen has scored 30 plus tonight

is plus 155.

Yeah, I like that.

I like that a lot more than BYU Moneyline.

That's, that's not offered.

DeBonsen's 40.

That's like that's like sportsbooks are like we'd like to go broke by offering you this bet

Final pod in the West region

Miami against Mizzou and Purdue against Queens now I grew up in Queens, New York City shout out to the 718

I

Even though that's true. I I'm gonna take Purdue over Queens and I'll take Miami over Missouri

I don't have a strong feeling there. So Miami and Purdue for me

Love Miami's a better wish they got a better draw. I haven't go for go going farther and I agree with you

Purdue is probably gonna blitz a queen. So like Miami

Yeah, I've got Purdue in Miami as well

Tyler, which is the best of the New York City boroughs

Uh, you're talking that somebody hasn't gone to New York much uh

Is man hat nice. Oh, no, let's go in my hand is is man hat and nice

Slot my that's my new jersey slap in the face these New Yorkers just so people Tyler is from New Jersey

He's it's not like he's from like he's from the other side of my area

Tyler lives like 40 minutes away from Manhattan

Bill what is the what is the best burrow in New York City?

It has to be Manhattan. I mean if you're talking about living in stuff. No, it's not manhattan

But I mean everything's in manhattan if you if you want to do like best character. It's Brooklyn

I actually quit Queens is the answer here um, we asked New York City Marises at N Island

I would never say that and I live there. Uh, we asked New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani

Which burrow he likes the most and he said he hated them all

Moving on uh to the round of 32 Arizona over Utah State

Arkansas over Wisconsin and he disagreements there

No, completely agree with those like Arkansas in those match of Arkansas and Arizona

You guys know I love my badgers, so I do have them over Arkansas. I think it'd be a great game

I just like the experience of Wisconsin

Ah well, I I think that's a little crazy, but listen, I'm wrong all the time

I will take Gonzaga over Texas and what could be a close game

Zags over Texas and I think Purdue runs away from Miami

I hope we get Gonzaga Texas Gonzaga will blitz Texas and I agree with you with Purdue advancing. So Gonzaga Purdue

Yep, I have Gonzaga Purdue as well

And then give me Arizona against Gonzaga in the elite eight so the Zags over Purdue

And I oh man, I'm telling you like I I want I want to take Gonzaga

I wish Gonzaga were in a different bracket. I can't take the Zags over Arizona though

So Arizona versus Gonzaga in the elite eight Arizona beats the Zags to go to the final four

I'm completely with all that I agree

So my Arizona Gonzaga elite eight and Arizona to the final four

So we so so we all think Gonzaga's gonna be Purdue if they play

Yep, yes

That is a contrarian opinion, so we love that all right you better you bet on this Thursday

Nick Costos with Tyler and Kenny on our crew and you

Filling out our bracket for the NCAA tournament. All right midwest region final one and then we'll do the final four

Michigan

We're just gonna we're we're just gonna advance Michigan right pass Howard in the one 16

Georgia against St. Louis in the eight nine

I can't believe people like St. Louis in this game. I think Georgia runs them off the court. So Michigan and Georgia for me

I can't agree with you more. I love Georgia's a bet as well. Georgia, Michigan, Alabama

I actually have St. Louis. So if that that makes you guys feel better

I just think they have their moment that I know they've not been playing good basketball lately

But they've been a good team all year long

I think in Georgia's so inconsistent and so do for an upset. So I'm gonna take St. Louis on the money line

I you know Danny said something last hour, and I think he's a hundred percent right

Like Michigan got the easiest raw to the final four out of all the one seats

It doesn't mean that they'll get there, but I mean look at the the four and the five here

Now it's not like I guess it is technical, you know, NATO. It's I don't know if he's running a really tight ship in Alabama

But Alabama's second leading scorer arrested with two pounds of pot in his apartment. You know what I want

I talked to Samson taking on

Speedy Clackston and Hofstra and then Texas tech without JT top and against Akron

Christian Anderson may not be a hundred percent healthy

In for brackets for brackets

Unless you have like to see differential in terms of point scoring if it's just like you get a point for getting it right

I think you have to advance tech and Alabama, but betting wise here. I'm definitely betting Akron to cover

I don't know about Alabama Hofstra Tyler

agree with you definitely betting Akron and I we don't know if Aiden Hall always playing for Alabama

I'm gonna take a wild guess here

Alabama has like players do worse come back and play immediately

They just brought about guy back from the G league and brought him on his team for like eight games

So I'm gonna assume Aiden Hall it will play in this game. They don't play the tomorrow

So I think they'll be fine like Alabama advanced will not be surprised legendary stuff if he plays

I mean

They let Brandon Miller play and he was in the compless to a whole other situation. He played me into the actor of it

Yeah, let's go, but we don't have to do that, but yes, I like Akron to I like Akron to beat Texas tech, but for bracket purposes one point

Let's just get text tech to move on

Yeah, I actually have Akron beating Texas tech and I and I have Akron beating Alabama. Uh, I have Akron to the sweet 16

So like is

Is Akron's like

Is Akron's formula that they can outscore Alabama in a game? I don't know the answer

Yeah, that's the thing that's tough, but if Alabama is listening is second leading scorer then yeah

Definitely, I mean, I think it would be an issue

I just don't like the vibes of either tech or Bama tech stealing with injury issues with topping out in Anderson's banged up

And then Alabama missing Holloway. That's not good news. So I think Akron makes it out of this pot

All right, uh, we go to the bottom half now of the Midwest region

Tennessee and Miami, Ohio, Tennessee and 11 and a half point favorite all all advanced Tennessee in the bracket

I think Tennessee wins a close game, but I am absolutely betting Miami, Ohio to cover that big number

And then Virginia right state all advanced Virginia, but I don't have a strong opinion on whether they cover or not

Yep, Tennessee Virginia. I'm good with you. I have no bets on the other one. I hate that Miami, Ohio hospital in Tennessee because I want to feed Miami, Ohio

Yeah, actually I'm with you Nick. I'm in a bad amount Miami, Ohio plus the points

But I think Tennessee gets away with the win

And just to say this we'll say a million times over the course of the rest of the show like this a really exciting day to bet games

Please bet within your means please bet responsibly. I have been there on the other side of it where at the end of the first day

I'm like like

And you don't want to be there trust me please bet responsibly today

Final pod in the Midwest region

Kentucky Santa Clara, Iowa state Tennessee state we will advance the cyclones and I

Love Kentucky against Santa Clara Tyler

I'm not a Kentucky fan at all to this year, but I also like them seeing Santa Clara's a popular bet. I'm good. I'll take Kentucky

I love Kentucky as well tomorrow morning

All right, so we're all of us will advance Kentucky. So now we go back Michigan over Georgia

I mean, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with I guess I'll take Texas tech over Alabama

I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do there. Maybe you guys can talk me into something in the five four match up there

I'm I took Alabama. I just assume Hollywood is gonna play again. There's so much uncertainty

I just don't think Alabama can't and they took it home on the court

I have Akron so you can you as Akron. Yeah. All right, so we'll advance Alabama. Let's advance Bama here

Pass Texas tech as Tyler has a strong opinion. I don't have this strong opinion there bottom of the region now

Ten oh man, but I kind of want to get nuts here

I have Kentucky over Iowa state

It's time

Kentucky over Iowa state

I really want to take Tennessee over Virginia, but I don't think I can any any thought there to Virginia Tennessee Kentucky Iowa state Tyler

Um, I like Virginia to go past Tennessee. I'm just again going against Rick Barnes hasn't failed anybody and

I mean, I don't know how you can back Kentucky over pick Kentucky over Iowa state. I took Iowa state

I think that's that's insane, but it's your bracket

Yeah, uh, Kentucky has a size to match up with Iowa state, but their guard play is not nearly as good

I think Iowa state gets passed

All right, well, it's my bracket now yours. So we'll advance Virginia and Kentucky. Uh, I will take Michigan over Bama

Virginia over Kentucky

Michigan over Virginia Michigan in the final four

Um completely agree with you on those

Michigan's path

pretty easy

Okay, so Michigan so our final four

Michigan

Well, my final four

Michigan, Arizona

Michigan state and Illinois

Give me Illinois over Michigan state the align eye to the title game

Arizona over Michigan and what is actually the national championship game on the other side of the bracket and a really close game

and Arizona over Illinois in the national championship game final score

Arizona 80 Illinois 70 tiebreaker

And the Arizona Wildcats for the first time since 1997 Simon says championship

Arizona cuts down the nets and wins the national championship very quickly Tyler your champ and Kenny your champ

Arizona. I'm with you. We all have Arizona

Great awesome. Yeah, wonderful. Yeah, it's awesome like what what what could go wrong? Duke did well last year stop it

Just like we don't need to please gamble responsibly everybody

All right, we'll take a break and on the other side if you found yourself asking this question this morning man

Loved to know how people are betting the tournament. Loved to know what's happening terms of percentages

Who does the public like what are the sharp bets that you can use both for survivor?

You can use it in brackets. You can use it in your bets

I got good news for you John Ewing from bedmgm coming up next to give you all the info you need for the NCAA

Tournament here on waswood 1 sports

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Has the news been getting you down? I'm Megan McCartle and I'm here to help

I'm the host of a news show from Washington Post opinion called reasonably optimistic

And it's an antidote to the pessimism that's riddling America right now

Every Wednesday, I'm going to talk to people who see a path forward

Does seem to me that there is some awakening of a desire to act together to solve problems where they are

You know, I am a believer in America and it's worth fighting for

Join me Wednesdays on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

Do you have a dark curiosity follow and listen to heart starts pounding on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts