Jim Feist

The Utah Utes (16-16) and Butler Bulldogs (14-19) face off in the opening round of the College Basketball Crown tournament from Las Vegas, NV. Both teams are looking to finish their seasons strong after inconsistent conference play. Utah is slightly favored heading into the matchup, with the game expected to be high-scoring. Utah finished with a .500 overall record and went 8-12 in Big 12 competition. They were eliminated early in the conference tournament with a loss to UCF. Gabe Madsen: Leading scorer with 15.1 points per game and also adds 2.6 rebounds. Keanu Dawes: Coming off a 21-point performance in their most recent game. Utah excels at ball movement, averaging 17.5 assists per game, ranking among the top teams nationally in that category. Butler ended their regular season 6-14 in Big East play. They notched a win over Providence in the conference tournament before falling to St. John’s. Jahmyl Telfort: Pacing the Bulldogs with 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Pierre Brooks: Contributing 15.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. Butler averages 14.0 assists per game and looks to move the ball effectively to create perimeter shots. Utah averages 75.3 points per game, while Butler averages 73.8. On defense, both teams give up around 73 points, suggesting a potentially balanced and competitive game. Utah has lost five of their last six games, while Butler has dropped four of their last five. Pretty even matched game so this one could be who is more motivated. I'm counting on Butler to be that team here tonight. Play Butler. 

The Red Sox take on the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, March 31, 2025 (2:35 PM ET at Camden Yards). Boston Red Sox (1-3): The Red Sox are coming off a tough opening series against the Texas Rangers, where they dropped three of four games. Their offense has struggled early, managing only five hits in a narrow 3-2 loss on Sunday. Baltimore Orioles (2-2): The Orioles split their first four games with the Toronto Blue Jays. While their pitching has shown promise, the bats have been inconsistent, scoring only one run in their most recent game. The Red Sox will start Sean Newcomb (LHP). Newcomb will be making his Red Sox debut. He pitched 10 innings for Oakland in 2024, finishing with a 6.30 ERA. The team is hoping a fresh start helps him regain form. The Orioles will counter with Cade Povich (LHP). Povich enters his sophomore season looking to build on his rookie campaign, which saw him post a 5.20 ERA across 79.2 innings. He'll aim to give the Orioles early control of the series. Both teams are searching for consistency in the early days of the 2025 season. This matchup between lefties could come down to which offense finds its rhythm first. I like Baltimore here today. 

The Houston Rockets (48-26) travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers (45-29) in a key Western Conference showdown. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, with the Rockets holding the second seed and the Lakers sitting at fourth. This game could have serious implications for playoff seeding as the regular season winds down. Under Coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets have emerged as a legitimate contender in the West. Their offensive strategy thrives on balance and depth, with seven players averaging at least 12 points per game. Center Alperen Sengun has been a standout, averaging over 19 points and 10 rebounds, and anchoring both ends of the floor. Houston leads the league in rebounding and boasts one of the top defensive units, allowing just over 109 points per game. The Lakers are powered by the ever-reliable LeBron James, who continues to defy age with averages of 24.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The recent addition of Luka Don?i? has added a new dimension to their offense, although the team has struggled recently with a 2-4 record in their last six games. With the postseason looming, the Lakers will be looking to regain momentum at home. In their previous matchup on January 5, the Rockets edged the Lakers 119-115 in a high-intensity battle led by a 33-point performance from Jalen Green. Expect both teams to come out motivated in what could be a playoff preview. One drawback for the Rockets is that they played last night in Phoenix, blowout out the Suns. This is the 2nd of a back-to-back spot for the Rockets with travel. That gives an edge to the Lakers here tonight. I'm going to take the Lakers here at home with more rest than the Rockets. Play the Lakers

The Sacramento Kings (36-38) head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Indiana Pacers (43-31) in a crucial late-season matchup. The Pacers are looking to lock in a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Kings are clinging to a spot in the Western Conference play-in race. Sacramento will be aiming to snap a five-game road losing streak. Indiana has been a force at home with a 24-10 record and has shown consistency on offense, averaging 116.6 points per game. They're one of the most efficient shooting teams in the league, ranking high in both field goal and three-point percentages. Defensively, they allow 115.2 points per game, which places them in the bottom third of the league. Pascal Siakam leads the team in scoring with 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while Tyrese Haliburton adds 18.6 points and 9.1 assists. The Pacers recently made headlines with a 162-point outburst in their win over Washington, showcasing their explosive scoring potential. The Kings have an identical scoring average to the Pacers at 116.6 points per game but have been less consistent on defense, giving up 115.7 points per contest. Domantas Sabonis continues to dominate the glass, leading the NBA with 13.9 rebounds per game. Sacramento’s offense can keep pace with anyone, but their road struggles and lack of defensive stops have hampered their consistency. One of the biggest factors in this game will be Indiana's three-point shooting against Sacramento's perimeter defense. The Pacers rank among the league's best in shooting from beyond the arc, while the Kings rank at the bottom in defending the three. Additionally, the showdown between Sabonis and Myles Turner will be key in controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Given Indiana’s home-court success and Sacramento’s ongoing road issues, the Pacers have a key edge. If they can continue to shoot efficiently and exploit the Kings' defensive gaps, especially on the perimeter, they could walk away with a comfortable win.  Take the Indiana Pacers.