In terms of sheer excitement and drama, you would be hard-pressed to beat the first four days of the NCAA Tournament as Cinderella teams aim to take down the bluebloods of college hoops. As all of the action all tips off on Thursday afternoon, we've got a stat check for all of those matchups:
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#11 Colorado State Rams vs. #6 Murray State Racers (West, 12:15 PM ET)
Colorado State is 3-1 ATS in neutral-court games this season and they're 10-10 ATS against teams with a winning record. Murray State is 9-4 ATS against winning squads and 2-2 ATS in neutral courts during the 2011-12 season.
#9 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. #8 Kansas State Wildcats (East, 12:40 PM ET)
The Golden Eagles can be trouble for NCAA basketball betting players on neutral court with a record of 1-4, but they're also 4-2 as an underdog. Kansas State has split their six games on neutral courts, but only 7-11 ATS against teams with a winning record.
#13 Davidson Wildcats vs. #4 Louisvile Cardinals (West, 1:40 PM ET)
These are two very good teams when playing on neutral courts, as Davidson is 3-1 ATS and Louisville is 4-0 ATS. The Wildcats have won all three tournament games they've played, while the Cardinals are perfect after winning the Big East tournament, so something has to give.
#13 Montana Grizzlies vs. #4 Wisconsin Badgers (East, 2:10 PM ET)
Wisconsin has been tough on non-conference competition, covering the spread in eight of their 10 games, but the Grizzlies, champions of the Big Sky, have covered 13 times in 17 games after beating a conference opponent.
#14 Brigham Young Cougars/Iona Gaels vs. #3 Marquette Golden Eagles (West, 2:45 PM ET)
Marquette is playing the winner of the BYU/Iona play-in game, and the Golden Eagles have won four of their five games on neutral courts, but it came to Louisville in the Big East tournament. During those five games, the Golden Eagles covered on three occasions.
#16 UNC-Asheville Bulldogs vs. #1 Syracuse Orangemen (East, 3:10 PM ET)
Syracuse can worry you on a neutral court if you're an NCAA basketball betting sharp as they've covered just once in four games, while the Bulldogs has covered in all five tournament games they've played this season.
#12 Long Beach State 49ers vs. #5 New Mexico Lobos (West, 4:10 PM ET)
This New Mexico squad can put a beating on the betting lines, going 5-1 ATS on neutral courts, 10-3 ATS in non-conference games and 22-6 as a favorite. Long Beach State is 4-2 straight up and against the spread in six games.
#12 Harvard Crimson vs. #5 Vanderbilt Commodores (East, 4:40 PM ET)
The Crimson are 3-0 ATS in three neutral-site games played this season, while the Commodores are 4-1 ATS after their run through the SEC tournament.
#16 Mississippi State Valley Delta Devils/Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. #1 Kentucky Wildcats (South, 6:50 PM ET)
The Wildcats have struggled to cover the spread lately, going 2-6 in their last eight games and they were 13-20 overall against the spread over the 2011-12 season.
#12 Virginia Commonwealth Rams vs. #5 Wichita State Shockers (South, 7:15 PM ET)
VCU has long been a solid play on the betting lines in the Tournament with a 9-1 ATS record since 1997, and Wichita State covered just one of their five neutral site games this season.
#10 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. #7 Gonzaga Bulldogs (East, 7:20 PM ET)
Gonzaga has shown no fear of the Big East over the last 15 years, racking up a 10-2 ATS record against them, but West Virginia has always been a tough Tournament team and have covered in 17 of their last 21 March Madness games.
#14 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. #3 Baylor Bears (South, 7:27 PM ET)
The Jackrabbits step up against teams with winning records, going 8-3 ATS this season and posting a 4-0 ATS record in non-conference action. Baylor has been an enigma for March Madness betting cappers, going 12-14 against the spread in 3-3 in neutral-site games.
#9 Connecticut Huskies vs. #8 Iowa State Cyclones (South, 9:20 PM ET)
UConn, the defending national champions, are 10-2 against non-conference opponents, but have covered the spread only three times. Iowa State has won and covered in five of their last six games that followed a loss to a fellow Big 12 team.
#13 New Mexico State Aggies vs. #4 Indiana Hoosiers (South, 9:45 PM ET)
New Mexico State has been good in neutral-court games with four wins in five tries, but Indiana has covered in all seven of their non-conference matchups this season.
#15 Loyola (Maryland) Greyhounds vs. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (East, 9:50 PM ET)
The Buckeyes have won 12 of their 13 non-conference games outright, but only 4-4 ATS during those games, while Loyola (MD) is 12-3 ATS after beating a conference rival.
#11 Colorado Buffaloes vs. #6 UNLV Rebels (South, 9:57 PM ET)
Colorado has covered in five of their seven neutral-court games this season, and they're 3-0 when the betting lines are between 3.5-6 points. UNLV has stumbled as a favorite, going 13-18 ATS despite a 26-8 overall record.
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Bet March Madness at Bovada.lv right now.
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#11 Colorado State Rams vs. #6 Murray State Racers (West, 12:15 PM ET)
Colorado State is 3-1 ATS in neutral-court games this season and they're 10-10 ATS against teams with a winning record. Murray State is 9-4 ATS against winning squads and 2-2 ATS in neutral courts during the 2011-12 season.
#9 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. #8 Kansas State Wildcats (East, 12:40 PM ET)
The Golden Eagles can be trouble for NCAA basketball betting players on neutral court with a record of 1-4, but they're also 4-2 as an underdog. Kansas State has split their six games on neutral courts, but only 7-11 ATS against teams with a winning record.
#13 Davidson Wildcats vs. #4 Louisvile Cardinals (West, 1:40 PM ET)
These are two very good teams when playing on neutral courts, as Davidson is 3-1 ATS and Louisville is 4-0 ATS. The Wildcats have won all three tournament games they've played, while the Cardinals are perfect after winning the Big East tournament, so something has to give.
#13 Montana Grizzlies vs. #4 Wisconsin Badgers (East, 2:10 PM ET)
Wisconsin has been tough on non-conference competition, covering the spread in eight of their 10 games, but the Grizzlies, champions of the Big Sky, have covered 13 times in 17 games after beating a conference opponent.
#14 Brigham Young Cougars/Iona Gaels vs. #3 Marquette Golden Eagles (West, 2:45 PM ET)
Marquette is playing the winner of the BYU/Iona play-in game, and the Golden Eagles have won four of their five games on neutral courts, but it came to Louisville in the Big East tournament. During those five games, the Golden Eagles covered on three occasions.
#16 UNC-Asheville Bulldogs vs. #1 Syracuse Orangemen (East, 3:10 PM ET)
Syracuse can worry you on a neutral court if you're an NCAA basketball betting sharp as they've covered just once in four games, while the Bulldogs has covered in all five tournament games they've played this season.
#12 Long Beach State 49ers vs. #5 New Mexico Lobos (West, 4:10 PM ET)
This New Mexico squad can put a beating on the betting lines, going 5-1 ATS on neutral courts, 10-3 ATS in non-conference games and 22-6 as a favorite. Long Beach State is 4-2 straight up and against the spread in six games.
#12 Harvard Crimson vs. #5 Vanderbilt Commodores (East, 4:40 PM ET)
The Crimson are 3-0 ATS in three neutral-site games played this season, while the Commodores are 4-1 ATS after their run through the SEC tournament.
#16 Mississippi State Valley Delta Devils/Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. #1 Kentucky Wildcats (South, 6:50 PM ET)
The Wildcats have struggled to cover the spread lately, going 2-6 in their last eight games and they were 13-20 overall against the spread over the 2011-12 season.
#12 Virginia Commonwealth Rams vs. #5 Wichita State Shockers (South, 7:15 PM ET)
VCU has long been a solid play on the betting lines in the Tournament with a 9-1 ATS record since 1997, and Wichita State covered just one of their five neutral site games this season.
#10 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. #7 Gonzaga Bulldogs (East, 7:20 PM ET)
Gonzaga has shown no fear of the Big East over the last 15 years, racking up a 10-2 ATS record against them, but West Virginia has always been a tough Tournament team and have covered in 17 of their last 21 March Madness games.
#14 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. #3 Baylor Bears (South, 7:27 PM ET)
The Jackrabbits step up against teams with winning records, going 8-3 ATS this season and posting a 4-0 ATS record in non-conference action. Baylor has been an enigma for March Madness betting cappers, going 12-14 against the spread in 3-3 in neutral-site games.
#9 Connecticut Huskies vs. #8 Iowa State Cyclones (South, 9:20 PM ET)
UConn, the defending national champions, are 10-2 against non-conference opponents, but have covered the spread only three times. Iowa State has won and covered in five of their last six games that followed a loss to a fellow Big 12 team.
#13 New Mexico State Aggies vs. #4 Indiana Hoosiers (South, 9:45 PM ET)
New Mexico State has been good in neutral-court games with four wins in five tries, but Indiana has covered in all seven of their non-conference matchups this season.
#15 Loyola (Maryland) Greyhounds vs. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (East, 9:50 PM ET)
The Buckeyes have won 12 of their 13 non-conference games outright, but only 4-4 ATS during those games, while Loyola (MD) is 12-3 ATS after beating a conference rival.
#11 Colorado Buffaloes vs. #6 UNLV Rebels (South, 9:57 PM ET)
Colorado has covered in five of their seven neutral-court games this season, and they're 3-0 when the betting lines are between 3.5-6 points. UNLV has stumbled as a favorite, going 13-18 ATS despite a 26-8 overall record.
