There is a weird confluence of conference tournament championship games and the beginning of other conference tournaments with awful matchups on Tuesday's slate.
Tuesday begins with the six worst teams in the ACC facing each other in Brooklyn and I only see a significant edge in one of those clashes.
Most of my Tuesday focus is on the six conference championship games. I have futures on Bryant, Northern Kentucky and UNC Wilmington, so I'm not making any additional picks there.
I am willing to bet on high-scoring games in the two latest championship games on the schedule in the WCC and Summit League.
Gonzaga and South Dakota State have two of the best offenses in the country and we should see that on display as they look to cut down the nets.
Tuesday CBB Picks
Overall Record: 269-289-4 (5-4-1 Monday)
NC State vs. Clemson (-5.5) (4:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
ACC Tournament First Round
Let's just say there is a reason why the six worst teams in the ACC are playing on Tuesday and getting buried on ACC Network.
NC State is the worst team of the bunch and its defense has been atrocious lately. The Wolfpack gave up 274 points in their last three games.
Clemson has at least been half decent lately because of its defense. The Tigers are on a four-game winning streak and they held their last three opponents to 65 points or fewer.
Clemson has an ounce of a chance to be competitive after Tuesday, while NC State is just waiting for the season to end.
Southern Miss vs. UTSA (-3.5) (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Conference USA Tournament First Round
Southern Miss is the worst of the worst in Conference USA.
The Golden Eagles have not beaten a Division 1 opponent since their win over UTSA on January 6.
Southern Miss conceded at least 70 points in 13 contests of its 14-game losing streak.
UTSA is not exponentially better than Southern Miss, but it is much more competent. The Roadrunners scored 98 points on Southern Miss in an overtime win on February 17 and their defense held UAB and North Texas, two of the best C-USA teams, under 60 points in the last two weeks.
CSU Bakersfield vs. CSU Northridge (+6.5) (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Big West Tournament First Round
No team should be favored by 6.5 points in a battle of squads that went 2-12 and 3-13 in conference play.
I definitely do not trust CSU Bakersfield with that number since it ranks 353rd in three-point offense and 338th in two-point offense.
CSU Northridge's offense is not much better, but this is more of a play that factors in a much closer contest than expected by the odds makers.
Saint Mary's vs. Gonzaga (Over 140) (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
WCC Tournament Final
Gonzaga probably wants to make a statement on Tuesday night.
The Zags were held to 57 points by Saint Mary's in their loss to close out the regular season two weeks ago.
Gonzaga scored 81 points on Monday night and Saint Mary's, who typically scores in the 60s, produced 75 points in its semifinal win.
Mark Few's team will force Saint Mary's to score a large amount of points to win the WCC title game, and if the Gaels do not score much, the Zags could pull away by scoring 80-90 points.
North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State (Over 150) (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Summit League Tournament Final
I'm starting to fall in love with South Dakota State's offense.
South Dakota State averages 87.1 points per game and it ranks first in three-point offense and effective field-goal percentage.
The Jackrabbits produced 87 and 83 points to start the Summit League tournament. They posted 80 and 90 points in two regular-season meetings with North Dakota State, both of which had more than 150 points.
North Dakota State scored 75 or more points in each of its last seven games and it put up 76 and 86 points in the two losses to the Jackrabbits.