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The prognosticators

March 3, 2006

Prognosticators take a final guess at the regular season games before the tournaments begin. This week, The Boss is trying a new strategy for picking to see if he can actually win a few.

The Boss — Due to some putrid progging this season, I will pick every game by the flip of a 1987 U.S. quarter provided by a co-worker. For consistency purposes, the home team will be heads in every game. Should be a good one!

Tomahawk — That's a sad statement when you're better off taking blind chance over your own best guess. Is there any chance The Boss can even catch me anymore? Barring of course:

No. 25 MSU vs. No. 10 Illinois

12:00 p.m. Saturday at Breslin Center

ON TV CBS

The Boss: This is an interesting game, that's for sure. Indeed, it is Senior Day, but Illinois is a team the Spartans probably won't be able to run over. It will be interesting to see if Tom Izzo starts all the seniors or not. Let's see what the coin says.

MSU 74, Illinois 69

Tomahawk: It's Senior Day and the regular-season finale. It's the final chance to get some momentum for the postseason. If all that doesn't get this team up, we might as well start thinking about football. I'm still buying. Aerts and Hamo combine for 50 in their swan song game.

MSU 70, Illinois 65


No. 13 North Carolina vs. No. 1 Duke

9:00 p.m. Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium

ON TV ESPN

The Boss: Ladies and gentlemen, ESPN welcomes you to DukeVision, the place where Duke always gets the call, J.J. Redick never does anything wrong and Dick Vitale is in a living heaven. It's blahsome baby! Let's flip that coin.

Duke 81, North Carolina 78

Tomahawk: Carolina would have won the last meeting against Duke if not for a few freshman mistakes down the stretch. I was all set to take the Tar Heels, until Florida State upsets Duke. But there's no way they end the season on a two-game skid. J.J. would murder somebody.

Duke 86, North Carolina 81


No. 17 Florida vs. Kentucky

12:00 p.m. Sunday at Rupp Arena

On TV CBS

The Boss: Kentucky is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life and this will be a critical home game against an inconsistent Gators squad. Kentucky has enough talent to be a serious threat in the tournament, but it just has to get there first. And the verdict is

Kentucky 67, Florida 61

Tomahawk: The Wildcats start four guards. They've had problems all season against teams with size. The Gators start three players taller than 6-foot-8. I think you see where I'm going with this. If not, you should start a Facebook group called "I'm Not Too Good With Basic Logic."

Florida 79, Kentucky 73


No. 19 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Texas

4:00 p.m. Sunday at Frank Erwin Center

On TV CBS

The Boss: Oklahoma and Texas. Texas and Oklahoma. This game became a lot more interesting when Texas A&M knocked off the Longhorns on Wednesday. Now, Texas needs a win here to at least clinch a share of the Big 12 title. Talk about pressure! Let's see what the coin says.

Oklahoma 71, Texas 65

Tomahawk: Oklahoma has won four straight games by one point. How do you get luck like that? But karmic retribution is coming this weekend in the form of Texas, which has barely been challenged at home this season. You mess with Texas, you get the horns.

Texas 82, Oklahoma 68

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