Since the odds-feed doesn't offer this game, here's Play # 2 of a 3-team parlay in CBB for Friday. We'll travel to Virginia for the semi-final round of the the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game between Norfolk State & North Carolina Central. HC Robert Jones has produced more than a few winners in his 10-year tenure as HC of the Spartans. They're currently 21-10 & return a strong nucleus of 4 starters from last season. On the flip side, LeVelle Moton has been close to that same success in his 14 seasons as HC of the Eagles. These teams are very close to the same talent this season & have split their 2 regular season affairs. Meeting 1 saw Norfolk State take a 77-71 decision @ Echols Hall in Norfolk while most recently the Eagles came back to grab a grueling OT win by a 76-75 score @ McDougald-McLendon Arena in Durham. The rubber match is set right in the Spartans' back yard (but not home floor) so we'll look for them to stay in it to win. That's where the numbers dictate this one to wind up as we'll go to Norfolk Scope Arena to play 9 Stars on the NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS (buying to + 8 1/2) in the 2nd Leg/Parlay inside my Friday Before Madness Selections! Niagara vs. Iona (NCAAB) 6:00 PM EST Iona Premium Pick YouWager Play Title: Mike's Friday Before Madness Selections Play Selected: Point Spread: -14/-110 Rating: 9* (WIN) Analysis: Consult this week's previous write-ups for a more detailed report on why I like this Gaels squad. HC Greg Paulus has finally gotten over the .500 hump in his 4th season as skipper of the Purple Eagles. He sits 16-14 this season with a shakier 51-61 record overall. The problem in this game will be who will pick up the slack when Rick Pitino's "D" takes away Niagara's best shooter in Noah Thomasson (22.2 PPG). Balanced scoring is key whether you move down the stretch of a conference tournament or the Sweet 16. Iona played Niagara twice with the Gaels winning 78-56 @ the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle while meeting 2 saw similar results with Iona coming out on top 72-55 @ the Gallagher Center in Niagara, NY. This time around, I expect a more focused Gaels team since their record of 24-7 doesn't mean they're a shoe-in for an at-large bid. They also travel well as they've accumulated a nifty 14-6 record in true away & neutral site games. Let's pop down to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to play the IONA GAELS on the ML (1st of 3 in parlay) as my 9 Star Friday Before Madness Selection! Grand Canyon vs. Sam Houston State (NCAAB) 9:00 PM EST Sam Houston State Premium Pick YouWager Play Title: Mike's 3rd Leg/Parlay of His Friday Before Madness Selections Play Selected: Point Spread: -2.5/-110 Rating: 9* (WIN) Analysis: None of these were forecasted to be @ the top of the WAC-Western Athletic Conference. However, here they are competing in the semi-final round with the winner taking on the winner of Southern Utah & Utah Valley. For this one, HC Bryce Drew (brother of Scotty Drew --he previously coached @ Vanderbilt & Valparaiso for 15 seasons total) returns for his 3rd season in Phoenix & has compiled a 62-26 overall record (23-11 this season). In his 1st season, he guided the Antelopes to a March Madness 1st Round bid & loss. HC Jason Hooten is no stranger in Huntsville, TX whose guided the Bearkats for 13 seasons. What I like about this 25-6 team is they know how to win on the road. That's easily attested by their 13-5 record in true away & neutral site games (GCU's about 9-7 in those same categories). The last 2 games these 2 have played have been very close affairs. Earlier this season @ the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville saw the Antelopes come in & then leave on the right side of a 72-68 OT thriller. These 2 also met in last season's WAC Tournament @ this same venue with GCU coming out on top again by a slim 71-66 margin. Numbers point out Grand Canyon sits just 3-7 ATS versus teams with a SU winning record while Sam Houston State is a very strong 9-1-1 versus the number in that same category. Look for the same hard-fought & highly-contested ball game between 2 teams of equal talents. We're going to the Orleans Arena in Paradise, NV (south of Vegas' main strip) to play the SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS (buying to a key + 5 1/2) for 9 Stars as my 3rd Leg/Parlay on my Friday before Madness Selections! NOTES: Early on, Iona took care of business versus Niagara in Atlantic City 71-59. Things really heated up in the 1st nightcap as Norfolk State had to go to OT to outlast North Carolina Central 72-65. The late-nighter went right down to the spread as Grand Canyon shot an incredible 54% (53% from 3-pt land). They rallied in the 2nd half to beat Sam Houston State 78-75 but the Bearkats came through just covering the 5 1/2. Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 CBB Overall Record: 23-0 for a surreal 100%
 

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