Since Friday is about the messiest day I’ve ever seen in the NBA, with all the trades and injuries having nearly every roster in a state of flux, let’s take a look at the attractive BracketBuster game tonight. These schools, both with excellent programs, are less than an hour apart in the Charlotte area. So how have Davidson and Winthrop not played since 1992?

I don’t like to play against quality home dogs, but if I had to play it tonight, I’d lay the points. The Southern Conference is a much better conference than the Big South (Sagarin agrees), and Davidson has been right in there in games with North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, and NC State. They are simply a much more tested team. Also, the proximity of the schools lessens Winthrop’s home court edge. Look for Davidson to be challenged, but to emerge with a solid road win in a BracketBuster game that’s much more attractive than most of the junk being played tomorrow.