Jon Rothstein's March Madness Elite Eight Picks and Predictions: Gotta go with Gonzaga

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Jon Rothstein

NCAAB

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College basketball's hungriest insider. "Stay hungry, Stay humble"

It’s crunch time in the NCAA Tournament as the Elite Eight rolls on in March Madness. We saw two great games last night with Houston and Baylor advancing to the Final Four, and now we prepare to have that lineup completed.

Below you can find my lock of the day and best pick for Tuesday’s two Elite Eight games, with both entered as part of the Pickswise $10,000 Capper Contest, where I’m going up against some other top college basketball experts.

Make sure you also read the Pickswise team’s thoughts on the side and total for both of Tuesday’s Elite Eight matchups.

USC Trojans vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Great offense meets great defense in a battle of two West Coast juggernauts. USC’s interior defense and collective size inside with both Evan and Isaiah Mobley should give Gonzaga its toughest test thus far in the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans are definitely capable of slowing the Bulldogs down, but the real question is whether or not they’ll be able to have enough answers offensively to keep up with Gonzaga’s high-octane attack. Look for the interior matchup between Drew Timme and Evan Mobley to be a critical determining factor in this game’s outcome.

LOCK: Gonzaga -9

Be sure to check out the full game preview for USC Trojans vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Our college basketball expert, BetsByBob, has been on a serious roll with his picks lately. Find out his best Elite Eight bets here.

UCLA Bruins vs. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan has 60 assists on 83 made field goals in the NCAA Tournament and looks completely connected on both sides of the floor. UCLA, meanwhile, has unexpectedly played its way into the Elite Eight as an 11 seed. The biggest key for the Bruins in this game? Attempting to neutralize Hunter Dickinson on both sides of the floor. That’s easier said than done. If Dickinson produces at a high level, Michigan should have an excellent chance to reach the Final Four for the first time under Juwan Howard.

PICK: Michigan -7.5

Be sure to check out the full game preview for UCLA Bruins vs. Michigan Wolverines.

Pickswise is the home of March Madness Predictions. Check out all of our March Madness Picks, including daily March Madness Parlays throughout the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

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