The four No. 1’s in the NCAA Mens basketball Tournament by The Gaming Today’s, Ted Sevransky

Racers were good enough to beat Southern Miss, Memphis, Dayton and Western Kentucky over a four game span in early December. The Rams managed only three road wins all year: at lowly Air Force, UTEP and Northern Colorado.

South Dakota State was a serious moneymaker for anyone who bet Summit League basketball, finishing the regular season 18-7-1 ATS. Baylor was just 6-11 ATS as favorites of 15 points or less; underachieving against the betting markets because of their inability to close out games in strong fashion. The Bears won but failed to cover eight times.

UNLV has spent the last month as an overvalued commodity, just 2-8 ATS in the last 10 while losing outright as a favorite four times. Colorado slowed down its pace to steal the PAC-12 automatic bid with an impressive run of three straight away from home upsets in the conference tournament.

Doesn’t Vanderbilt lose to a team like Harvard every year in the Big Dance? Richmond knocked the Commodores out in the first round last year; Murray State pulled the first round upset in 2010 and Siena blew them out in 2008. The Crimson were good enough to beat Florida State in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving, but that’s their only signature victory.

Montana was the class of the Big Sky Conference and mirrors its opponent in many ways. The Grizzlies have decent size, play at a slow pace and are a well-coached, disciplined squad. Wisconsin struggled offensively against solid defensive teams all year, but the Big Ten entrant has gotten crushed repeatedly in the Big Dance in recent years.

The pointspread for VCU, like UConn, has definitely been influenced by their tournament success in 2011. The Rams are a team people are looking to bet on, not against. That being said, VCU won straight up at Wichita State as nine point underdogs on Bracketbuster weekend in 2011. Of course, last year was a different year and the Shockers were pretty darn impressive throughout 2012.

New Mexico State has the interior size to bang with Cody Zeller on the glass and hasn’t lost a road game by more than 4 since the setback at Southern Miss on Dec. 4. But the Aggies undisciplined style plays right into the hands of Indiana, even though Tom Crean’s Hoosiers had a major drop-off in their level of play away from home this year. They will be playing without senior floor leader Verdell Jones III.

Davidson went 16-2 in the Southern Conference led by star forwards De’Mon Brooks and Jake Cohen. Can Louisville muster the energy to win this game by margin just days after an intense and physically demanding run to the Big East Tournament title at Madison Square Garden last weekend?

There’s lots of built-in respect for Lehigh in this point spread range, despite Duke having earned dominating first round wins over lesser foes in each of the last three seasons. The Blue Devils beat up on Binghamton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Hampton all by 20 points or more.

The “good” Xavier team is capable of beating just about anyone in the country on a given night, but the Musketeers failed to bring their A-game repeatedly down the stretch. This is not the same team following their ugly, well publicized on-court brawl with Cincinnati. Notre Dame overachieved early in Big East play, but came down to earth down the stretch.

Creighton is a great offensive team, taking high percentage shots in the paint while creating good open looks on the perimeter. Alabama’s offensive flow can be like nails on a chalkboard to watch, but its defensive intensity and interior size could create some matchup problems for the Blue Jays.

LIU-Brooklyn is not likely to get Tom Izzo’s full attention. Michigan State could be primed for a somewhat sluggish showing following an intense run to the Big 10 title last weekend. That being said, there’s an enormous class difference between the Blackbirds and Spartans. Taking the dog here requires something resembling a leap of faith.

Both St Louis and Memphis have the talent to make a Sweet 16 type run, if not further. They are good basketball teams who played excellent ball down the stretch. That being said, this 8-9 matchup ensures the winner will get a brutal game against Michigan State over the weekend, making this my No. 1 mid-major screw job of the tourney!

The sharps absolutely love Belmont; hence this very short point spread against powerful Georgetown. Then again, those same wiseguys were betting on the Bruins when they went 0-3 ATS during conference championship week and three point underdogs at Memphis back in November, a game Belmont lost by 16 as a three point underdog.

San Diego State, under Steve Fisher, made a Sweet 16 run last year before getting knocked off by eventual champion UConn. This year’s version isn’t as good – not without Kawhi Leonard, Billy White, DJ Gay and Malcolm Thomas, all departed starters from the 2011 squad. NC State was one or two bad calls away from knocking off North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinal.

Florida State may struggle to recapture that same momentum enjoyed this past weekend when knocking off Duke and North Carolina to win the ACC Tournament title. St. Bonaventure star forward Andrew Nicholson was the A-10’s best player this year, but the Bonnies didn’t win a single step-up-in-class game prior to defeating Xavier in the conference tournament final.

Texas lost 13 games prior to the Big Dance, a rebuilding year for Rick Barnes and company. Cincinnati is the class in this matchup, both in terms of experience and talent. The Bearcats’ lack of depth will be tested, just as it was in their Big East Finals loss to Louisville.

Ohio U knocked off Georgetown in the Big Dance just two years ago and the roster is loaded with perimeter firepower. The Wolverines spent much of the season struggling to win games away from home, let alone winning by margin.

Norfolk State was 12-20 last year and an 11-win team the year before that. For the 2012 season, they had more turnovers than assists, a very bad sign when stepping up in class against Missouri. The Tigers create turnovers and turn them into fast break buckets in bunches.

Virginia was a classic overachiever as Tony Bennett coached up a mediocre bunch into a Top 25 squad for much of the year. Billy Donovan did the opposite at Florida. His Gators have a talent edge at nearly every position, but internal chemistry and execution left their supporters repeatedly unhappy down the stretch. UF were 1-4 in last 5 straight up.

Kansas is my pick to win it all, not a team I’m looking to fade in the first round. That being said, Detroit has the type of interior size, experience and point guard play that could make the Titans a tough out in Round 1.

Purdue and St Mary’s has all the makings of an instant classic. Two quality teams from different sides of the country locked in a first round battle. Great game to watch, tough to bet on!

New Mexico was the class of the Mountain West, but won’t have an easy time against veteran, battle tested Long Beach State. The Beach faced a truly rigorous non-conference slate, the likes of Pitt, San Diego St, Montana, Xavier, Louisville, Kansas, Creighton and North Carolina in non-conference play this season!

Come to www.aasiwins.com for all of The Gaming Today’s Ted Sevransky’s free NCAAB winners and articles.