The Bulldogs could be considered fortunate to be here. They shot a crazy 14 of 27 from deep at Wake Forest while the Demon Deacons were missing leading scorer Hunter Sallis (18.0 ppg). I still like them to compete hard to the final whistle, despite missing some key rotation pieces, as they chase an unlikely 20th win. The Buckeyes' leader in scoring, assists and steals, Bruce Thornton, is questionable after injuring his thigh in Saturday's win over Virginia Tech. While I expect him to suit up -- he's from Georgia -- he could be less effective than normal. Back the upstart Bulldogs to cover their seventh straight.

For a team that has covered a half-dozen times in a row and most recently knocked off top seed Wake Forest on the road, Georgia is receiving a bushelful of points. Ohio State, blessed with two home gigs leading into the quarterfinals, scrounged out single-digit wins over Cornell and Virginia Tech in less impressive fashion. Buckeyes Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle were injured in their previous game. Both are expected to play but could be limited.

OSU has continued its late-season surge (one that earned interim HC Jake Diebler the job on a full-time basis) that now reads 7-1 SU and vs. the spread in the last eight games, with the only outright loss in that span vs. Sweet 16 Illinois in the Big Ten semis. Jake Diebler has the Bucks running more than they did under Chris Holtmann, hitting 80+ points four times in the past six, with well-traveled (Minnesota and GW previous) fifth-year F Jamison Battle ending his college career with a rush, scoring 21 or more in three of the past four games. Note “overs” four straight and 6-1 the last seven for OSU, which has apparently embraced the Diebler attack mode. Play Georgia-OSU "Over" (NIT)