The Scumbag's guide to betting the Sweet 16: A common sense San Diego State lock

The Rhode Island Scumbag is our resident prognosticator who thoroughly cleaned up last year’s postseason basketball slate as a bettor. As such, he’s back to take us through both a select group of conference tournaments as well as the Big Dance itself. He chooses to remain anonymous (for now) for reasons unknown, though they may be related to the fact “Rhode Island Scumbag — 2021 to present” isn’t a particularly appealing resume item. 

Well, our guy is killing it once again. His official locks are hitting at an 80 percent success rate and would have been five-for-five had he not typo-ed himself into oblivion with his last guide (more on that later). For the second straight season, he’s faded down the stretch of the NFL season only to rise like a phoenix and absolutely torch his college basketball picks.

One day I’ll dig into whether or not the distraction of the hardwood has a negative effect on his football divination skills. But that’s for another day. I’m gonna let him cook right now. From here on out, all words are his.

Your boy is on FIRE! I have never had a weekend like this before. I seemed to hit every bet and have picked more winners in the opening round than ever before.

I have to apologize for one error in submitting my pick to my boy Christian. I played Xavier first team total vs. Pittsburgh, but like an idiot typed in that the play was Pitt team total over [Ed. note. This is true. He hit the scumbag chat an hour before tipoff with Xavier as the play. I would have updated his pick had he not typed in “PITT” twice, but there’s a reason he’s the Rhode Island Scumbag and not the Rhode Island Proofreading Champ].

Sorry to anyone who followed this pick incorrectly. I’m running so hot, that this pick almost cashed too — it only missed by two points. On to the Sweet 16.