Northern Iowa vs. Texas A&M

Tourney time is often dominated by great guard play, and Northern Iowa is loaded with a talented, veteran four-guard attack in senior Wes Washpun (14.3 points per game, 5.1 assists per game), 6-4 senior Matt Bohannon (11.7 points per game), 6-6 senior Paul Jesperson (10.8 points per game), and 6-5 junior Jeremy Morgan (10.5 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game). Jesperson's buzzer-beating heave from beyond half court banked in to lift the Panthers to a remarkable 75-72 victory over Texas in the first round as a dog, part of a 12-3-1 ATS run. It marked the third straight tournament appearance in which Northern Iowa won a game and puts the program a victory away from its second Sweet 16 berth under outstanding head coach Ben Jacobsen. Northern Iowa is fundamentally sound, one of the top foul-shooting teams in the country (75%), going 25-of-32 from the line (78%) the last game. They are tops in the Missouri Valley in free throws, #4 in scoring (68 per game), #2 in field goals, and in three-point shooting (37.5%). And the defense is stellar, #2 in the conference in points allowed (63 points per game) and #3 at defending the three-pointer (32%). Texas A&M is off a blowout win, but the Aggies are 5-15-1 ATS following a win of more than 20 points. Aggies guard Alex Caruso has 10 turnovers in the last two games and will have his hands full against this Panther guard attack. Northern Iowa has already beaten North Carolina (71-67 as +6.5 dog), Iowa State (81-79 as +7.5 dog), and won the MVC tourney, topping Wichita State (57-52) as a +9 dog. Northern Iowa is also 13-3-1 ATS at neutral sites and 33-16-4 ATS after a victory. Play Northern Iowa.