On Griffins Shoulders - (2) Oklahoma vs. (3) Syracuse

Griffin, Sooner Battle The Feared Syracuse Orangemen

After seeing what Blake Griffin is capable of, it’s nearly impossible to be convinced that he would be stopped at the college level. But Syracuse has made it a nasty habit of theirs to cause riots when overlooked. If Griffin and the Sooners are caught looking forward to a possible showdown with UNC, then Syracuse will make them pay for it. The Sooners need to stay focused.

Pundits, myself included, are lathering at the chance to see Hansbrough and Griffin do battle. But the Sooners still have to get past a team that is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games and have already caused major upsets in March with wins over West Virginia and UConn. Will Griffin stand in the way of Jim Boeheim’s 800th win? Or will Syracuse ruffle the feathers of the college basketball betting community by rousing a big upset over the Sooners?

And while Oklahoma and their betting faithful are looking forward to a showdown with UNC (if and when they get past Gonzaga), Syracuse has Griffin the cross-hairs. Boeheim and the Orangemen starters have called Griffin the unrivaled best player in the country, and are game planning to contain his offensive force and defensive dominance. But he isn’t the only player Syracuse has to keep on the radar.

#3 Syracuse Orange (28-9) vs. #2 Oklahoma Sooners (29-5)

Friday, March 27th --- FedEx Forum, Memphis --- 7:27pm EST

NCAA Betting Line: Oklahoma -1 (152)

The Sooners also boast another top-10 pick in Willie Warren, the dynamic do-it-all guard for Oklahoma who put himself on the map when Griffin put himself on the injured reserve in mid-season. Warren is a devastating matchup for Syracuse, who doesn’t boast the quickness to cover the hyper competitive Warren. The second option for Oklahoma scored 14.7 points per game, while dolling out 3.1 assists as the Sooners went to town on the college world this season.

The oddsmakers certainly haven’t laid low on Syracuse, choosing to reduce the thought of an “upset” by giving Syracuse just one-point in the spread. Still, I don’t think that this is a game where the Orange compete. Griffin and Warren are both superstars in the country, and Syracuse has been riding on luck and gumption for the past month. That streak comes to an end, and Oklahoma will rise to the occasion with another brilliant performance by the uncontrollable force of nature that is Blake Griffin.

March Madness Free Pick: Oklahoma -1 (UNDER)