NCAA Saturday: Guest Selectors including Callahan,Vreeswyk, Koob and Landis

KEN LANDIS

(Co-owner Chick's Deli)
> Virginia (-4.5) over Purdue
We like Virginia to make their first Final Four appearance since the 80s. Virginia knocked off one of the hottest teams in the country by holding Oregon to under 50 points Thursday. Defense wins championships and Virginia’s defense will smother high scoring Purdue to advance.
> Gonzaga (-4) over Texas Tech
Texas Tech may have the best defense in the country. The Red Raiders are quick and in your face, but Gonzaga has a underrated defense as well, plus the fire power to outlast and get the cover on their way to the Final Four.

RAY KOOB

(Radio Personality)
> Gonzaga (-4) over Texas Tech
Tech has powered it's way to the Elite Eight, but the Bulldogs are deep and can score like a rock star backstage! In tournament vernacular, they've “handled their business” including a solid W in a Sweet 16 revenge match-up with Florida State, who took them out in that same round last year. Matching Tech’s O vs. Zags’ D, edge to the Gonzaga, who can fill it up, as it has shown.
> Purdue (+4.5) over Virginia
The Cavaliers have cruised to the Elite Eight, despite a tight one with Oregon to get there. Purdue, though, has been dominating, completely taking apart the defending champs (Villanova) and outgunning Tennessee to gain this shot at the Final Four. They may need the points to win for you, but I think they make it a tight, exciting game. Not confident enough to call it as an Outright win, but this one will be fun to watch!

MIKE VREESWYK

(Former Temple player)
> Gonzaga (-4) over Texas Tech
Two great games on tap for Saturday. I like the Zags to continue playing well and punch their ticket to the Final Four. I know my overseas teammate -- and Gonzaga alum -- Scott Snider is going to be elated!

KEVIN CALLAHAN

(Host of South Jersey Sports Talk on RVNTV.com)
> Gonzaga (-4) Texas Tech
Like Gonzaga giving points again after laying 6.5 against in 14–point win against an FSU squad that smashed the spread against Murray State in the second round with a 28-point win over Racers and Ja Morant. However, giving points contradicts conventional thinking against Texas Tech’s defense, which is why my pick in Michigan game was Under 119 and hit with a total of 107. Also don’t know how to gauge Texas Tech after crushing the -3 line with a 20-point win over Buffalo in the second round, but barely covering the 14.5 spread against Northern Kentucky in a 15-point win in the first round. Understand, Red Raiders Coach Chris Beard boasts perhaps the nation’s best defense and handcuffed the Wolverines to 44 points. But, Mark Few rolls out the best/most efficient offense in the country and will halt the Red Raiders’ run short of reaching their first Final Four. Bulldogs and two projected first round picks Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura and have won seven West Coast Conference games by more than 30 points. Zags will cover.
> Purdue (+4.5) Virginia
Take the points. Virginia was an 8-point favorite over Oregon and won by 4. Not covering is the trend for Virginia, which edged the spread by a half point in a 12-point win over Oklahoma after the Cavaliers overcame a 14-point first half deficit to Gardner-Webb to win by 15, but the Cavs didn’t cover the 23.5 spread. No, Tony Bennett’s team isn’t rolling even though it has exorcised its first-round loss as a No. 1 seed last year to UMBC. Meanwhile, Purdue didn’t need the one point against Tennessee in a five-point. The win erased my concern of being satisfied after Matt Painter’s crew crushed Villanova. So what the Boilermakers blew 18-point lead in the second half against Vols – they won outright in OT. Both programs gunning for first Final Four in over 30 years – Purdue in 1980 and Virginia – one year after Ralph Sampson left -- in 1984, but Bennett ‘s trend is underachieving, remember he lost as first No. 1 seed in first round and in 2016 as a top seed to 10th-seed. Therefore, hoping Virginia goes to Minneapolis next weekend for my bracket’s sake, but like Purdue with the points – can you say Cavs by a 3-pointer at the buzzer?