Las Vegas Review-Journal March Madness Challenge picks

Alabama forward Brandon Miller (24) responds as Texas A&M guard Dexter Dennis (0) looks on in the last minutes of an NCAA college basketball game in the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis).
Review-Journal sports betting press reporter David Schoen completes versus VSiN host Wes Reynolds and expert handicappers Kelly Stewart, Paul Stone, Doug Fitz and Chip Chirimbes in a contest covering NCAA Tournament games Thursday and Friday.

Each candidate selects 12 games versus the spread, overalls or sides, choosing from the 28 video games that were on the wagering board before the First Four (lines taken Tuesday from Circa Sports). Eleven of the picks deserve one point, a best choice counts for 2 points, and a push is worth a half-point. The national champ choice is the tiebreaker.

The contest will continue in the Sweet 16.

Chip Chirimbes.

@chipchirimbes.

Best option: Illinois +2.

Maryland +2.

Iowa Pick.

Penn State +3.

Boise State +1½½.

Drake +2.

Kent State +4.

Connecticut -9 ½.

Florida Atlantic
+2. Providence +4½.

Montana State +8 ½. Baylor -10 ½.

Champion: Alabama.

Doug Fitz. Systemplays.com.

Best choice: Drake +2.

Charleston +5.

Furman +5½½.

Maryland +2.

Howard +22. UNC-Asheville +18.

Kent State +4.

Virginia Commonwealth +4.

Iona +9½½.

Providence +4.

North Carolina State +5.

Grand Canyon +16.

Champion: Arizona.

Wes Reynolds. VSiN host, @WesReynolds1. Best option: Furman +5½½.

San Diego State½-5
.

Tennessee -11 ½.

Penn State +3.

Utah State -1½½. UNC-Asheville +18. Vermont +10 ½.

Kent State-Indiana U140 ½. Kennesaw State +11 ½. Providence-Kentucky U144½½.

David Schoen.

Review-Journal.

Best option: Auburn-Iowa U151½½. Charleston-San Diego State U141½½.

Houston -19.

Auburn Pick. Oral Roberts +6½½.

Kent State +4. Kent State-Indiana U140½½. Virginia Commonwealth +4
. North Carolina State +5.

N.C. State-Creighton O148½½.

Baylor -10 ½.

Grand Canyon-Gonzaga O156. Champ: Gonzaga.

Kelly Stewart.

@KellyInVegas, @barstoolsports.

Best choice: West Virginia -2.

San Diego State -5.

Penn State +3.

Utah State -1½½. Northwestern -1 ½.

Iona +9 ½.

Florida Atlantic +2. Southern California +2.

Kentucky -4.

Kansas State -8½½.

Champion: Houston.

Paul Stone.

@PaulStoneSports. Best bet: Kansas State -8½½.

Charleston +5. West Virginia -2.

Iowa Pick.

Penn State +3.

Illinois +2.

Northwestern -1½½. Marquette½-10 ½.

Drake +2.

Kent State +4. Virginia Commonwealth +4.

Baylor -10½½.

Champ: Marquette.

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.