Cnotes College Hoops Picks,Trends News 2018-2918 !

[Cnotes53]

SIZE=4]Saturday - Session 2[/SIZE]
Tony Mejia

West Region - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena

#10 Florida vs. #2 Michigan - 5:15 PM EST - CBS

Opening Odds: Michigan -6.5, 123

-- Michigan (29-6 SU, 20-15 ATS) rebounded from its loss in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State by dominating Montana in the first round, rolling by the Big Sky champ 74-55, coming through with the cover as a 15-point favorite. The Wolverines haven't lost consecutive games all season and haven't lost to an opponent not named Michigan State since Feb. 12.

-- The Wolverines are looking for their third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance in what has been yet another fantastic season under John Beilein, who signed an extension in the offseason after emerging as a finalist for the Detroit Pistons head coaching vacancy eventually filled by Dwane Casey. -- Florida (20-15 SU, 17-18 ATS) pulled off an upset over Nevada, eliminating the No. 7 seed and eliminating a Wolf Pack team that was among the most successful in program history. The Gators dominated early and then held on for dear life after having an 18-point lead trimmed to 63-61 with just over two minutes remaining. After entering the SEC Tournament with its inclusion in these NCAAs in doubt, Florida dropped Arkansas, upset LSU and then gave eventual champion Auburn a great game to seal an at-large bid.

-- Florida employs one of college basketball's slowest tempos, preferring to lock in defensively to utlize its collective size to stifle opponents. The Gators ranked in the bottom-10 in D-I in tempo entering the NCAAs according to tempo. Freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard has made significant strides throughout the season but faces a difficult challenge against counterpart Xavier Simpson, who has emerged as the heart of this Wolverines team throughout the season and ended up with 10 assists and seven rebounds to offset a slow shooting start. Simpson uncharacteristically committed four first-half turnovers but moved into No. 7 on Michigan's all-time assists list, passing Trey Burke.

-- Michigan ranks second in defensive efficiency per KenPom, surrendering an average of just 58.5 points per game, also second nationally, holding seven of its last nine opponents under 70 points. Michigan State was able to surpass that mark both times, so count on Mike White cramming in a lot of MSU-Michigan film between now and tip-off as he looks to take the Gators to their second Sweet 16 under his watch, the first since 2015.

-- The Wolverines are looking for their fifth Sweet 16 appearance in seven seasons under Beilein, which would set a Michigan record. He's currently tied with Steve Fisher with four Sweet 16s.

-- Michigan senior Charles Matthews missed time late in the season with an ankle injury but looked healthy in the Round of 64, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a great development for the Maize and Blue's chances. Freshman Iggy Brazdeikis put up 14 points and seven rebounds in his first NCAA Tournament game. He leads Michigan in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game.

-- The Wolverines reached the Sweet 16 last season thanks to a 3-pointer at the buzzer of their Round of 32 game by then-freshman Jordan Poole, so expect to see that highlight a few times today. He remains Michigan's x-factor. Florida's leading scorer, KeVaughn Allen (11.9 ppg) went scoreless in the opening half against Nevada, but x-factors Jalen Hudson and Kevarrius Hayes kept the Gators afloat with big starts they'll need to replicate to give their team a shot at pulling off this upset.

The 'under' has prevailed in four of the past five games involving Florida, extending a 12-3 run in Gators' games since the calendar hit February.

-- Michigan entered the NCAA Tournament with 20/1 odds to win it all, per the Westgate Superbook. Florida was slotted at 200-to-1.


West Region - Hartford, CT - XL Center

#12 Murray State vs. #4 Florida State - 6:10 PM EST - TNT

Opening Odds: FSU -4.5, 144.5

-- It's no surprise to see Murray State (29-5 SU, 20-10 ATS) destroyed Marquette in their tournament opener, rolling to an 83-64 rout behind 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists from point guard Ja Morant. The likely top-five NBA pick easily won his individual matchup with Big East Player of the Year Markus Howard to lead his team to a dominant performance in which they were running clock three-quarters of the way in.

-- Morant's triple-double was his third of the season and fourth of his career. The sophomore floor general has rightfully become a household name in college basketball circles this season and became the first to pull off a triple-double since Draymond Green pulled one out for Michigan State back in 2012. Freshman Tevin Brown, Morant's former AAU teammate, hit his first four three-pointers to help Morant set the tone. All five Murray starters scored at least nine points, so nerves weren't visible as the small Kentucky-based school imposed their will on the Golden Eagles.

-- Florida State (28-7 SU, 16-19 ATS) defeated a very solid Vermont squad, overcoming the Catamounts' fantastic 3-point shooting with their game-changing athleticism and size that ultimately wore down the America East power. The Noles rebounded from an ACC Tournament championship game loss to Duke.

-- Mfiondu Kabengele showed everyone who hadn't seen him why he's an intriguing NBA prospect and how he came to emerge as the ACC Sixth Man of the Year. Kabengele led the Seminoles in scoring (12.9 ppg) and finished with 21 points and 10 boards in making sure the opener against Vermont didn't get as interesting as it probably should have. Dikembe Mutombo's nephew has a great chance to emerge as a lottery pick if he leaves early and makes this matchup one all scouts will be glued to.

-- The 'Noles did receive awful news after their win over Vermont since senior forward Phil Cofer found out his father had passed away. He's decided to stay put with the team through this game, so the Noles will have to channel their emotions productively to overcome this obstacle.

-- Beyond Kabengele, FSU also boasts 7-foot-4 center Christ Koumadje in addition to Cofer and a collection of large, athletic wings, making them the biggest team Murray State will have run into. The Racers lost to Auburn and Alabama in non-conference play in their only meetings with high-majors prior to Thursday's victory over Marquette. The Racers have won 12 consecutive games and are 1-2 in career meetings vs. the 'Noles, last playing them in 1998.

-- The Seminoles have won 15 of 17 games, losing only top top-seeds North Carolina and Duke. They're not great against the spread, covering in only three of their last nine.

-- Count on their effectiveness shooting the 3-ball to tell the story if the Racers are to pull off the upset since Morant's ability to get to the rim will be mititgated some by the size of Koumadje and Kabengele. Murray State shot 9-for-18 from beyond the arc in the Round of 32. Vermont finished 16-for-32 against the Noles, who haven't defended the 3-ball well despite their length on the perimeter. Morant, Brown and senior Leroy Buchanan will have to be productive from 3-point range to give themselves a chance.

-- The Seminoles were 40/1 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, while the Racers were a popular longshot at 300/1.

-- The 'under' is on a 6-3 run in FSU games.


West Region - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena

#9 Baylor vs. #1 Gonzaga - 7:10 PM EST - TBS

Opening Odds: Gonzaga -13.5, 148.5

-- Following an embarrassing loss to rival Saint Mary's in the West Coast final in which it scored a season-low 47 points, Gonzaga (31-3 SU, 22-12 ATS) rebounded from one of the most puzzling games we've seen this March by destroying Fairleigh Dickinson 87-49. The loss to the Gaels didn't cost the West's biggest juggernaut their No. 1 seed and they managed to play like they were deserving in a dominant effort against the Northeast Conference champs.

-- Baylor (20-13 SU, 17-14-2 ATS) took down Syracuse, pulling away in a tight game and taking advantage of the Orange suspending key senior wing Frank Howard, whose presence was missed as Syracuse struggled to find a third scorer to pair with Oshae Brissett and Tyus Battle. That should take nothing away from the Bears, who rode 16 3-pointers to the mild upset.

-- If Baylor is to challenge Gonzaga, it's going to require another 16 3-pointers, at least, to overcome a lack of depth. Makai Mason, who had a great run with Yale a few years ago and led the Bears in scoring (14.9 ppg) as a graduate transfer, overcame foot pain that has plagued him the past month-plus to knock down four 3-pointers, finishing with 22 points while racking up four assists and three steals to fuel the upset. Gonzaga will know where he is at all times.

-- The Bears lost top forward Tristan Clark back in January to a knee injury and have been working short-handed since, a credit to Scott Drew in what has been one of the best coaching jobs of his career. Brother Bryce was let go as head coach by Vanderbilt on Thursday. Scott Drew has dealt with a lot of criticism in Waco over his game management but would lead Baylor to its fifth Sweet 16 appearance over the past decade with an upset here.

-- Gonzaga has often been stifling on defense due to its depth and athleticism, but its calling card is the nation's most efficient, prolific offense, which is averaging a national-best 88.8 points per game. Rui Hachimura, a likely lottery pick, leads four double-digit scorers, averaging 20.1 points.

-- The Bulldogs led the nation in point differential, defeating teams by an average of 24.2 points. Gonzaga went 6-2 against high-majors, losing only to Tennessee and North Carolina while defeating the likes of Duke, Arizona and Creighton.

-- Mark Few has won roughly five of every six games he's coached in since taking over the program from Dan Monson back in 1999 and has gotten out of the first weekend of NCAA Tournament play in eight straight years. The Bulldogs played for the national championship in 2017, losing to North Carolina. The 'Zags haven't lost in the second round since 2010.
-- Gonzaga's 38-point win over the Knights was their largest in terms of margin of victory at the NCAAs in school history. The Bulldogs beat Baylor in the last meeting between the schools back in 2012, winning 94-87.

-- Gonzaga came in at 9/2 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, which came in just behind Duke (9/4) as far as favorites go. Baylor was 1,000-to-1.

-- The 'over' is on a 5-2 run in Baylor games but is just 1-3 in Gonzaga's last four games.

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday - Session 3
Joe Williams

East Region (Des Moines, IA)

No. 10 Minnesota vs. No. 2 Michigan State (CBS, 8:00 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Michigan State -10, 142

-- Michigan State (29-6 straight up, 24-11 against the spread) opened the tournament with a rather slugging 76-65 victory against Bradley, failing to cover the 17 1/2-point spread. Now they'll face a familiar foe from their own conference. This will be the first NCAA Tournament meeting between two Big Ten clubs since Sparty and Wisconsin did battle in the 2000 Final Four.

-- The Spartans hosted the Gophers on Feb. 9 at Breslin Center, easily covering a 13 1/2-point number while the 'under' (142) connected. In that game, Nick Ward led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, hitting nine of his 14 field-goal attempts. Matt McQuaid was a solid 6-for-9 from the field, ending up with 18 points and eight assists, while hitting four triples. Cassius Winston also chipped in with 11 points and nine assists and a 3-pointer of his own, and the Spartans won going away after hitting 31-of-60 (51.7 percent ) from the field versus 18-of-49 (36.7 percent) from the floor.

-- Michigan State ranked 41st with 78.7 points per game (PPG) this season, while hitting 48.4 percent from the field to check in 19th in the nation. They were also outstanding from behind the arc, hitting 38.1 percent, while managing a 75.8 percent mark from the free-throw line.

-- Defensively, the Spartans lock it down, allowing just 65.5 PPG to rank 37th in the country, while holding opponents to a 37.9 percent mark from the field to check in third overall. Rebounding differential was huge for Michigan State, too. They outrebounded teams by nearly 12 boards per game this season. They outrebounded Minnesota 37-29 in the first meeting, including 10 on the offensive end.

-- Michigan State has managed to cover four in a row after an ATS loss, although they're 0-4 ATS in their past four NCAA Tournament games. They are 20-6 ATS in the past 26 against winning teams, and 4-1 ATS in the past five games against conference foes, too.

-- For the Spartans, the under has cashed in 13 of the past 19 against conference foes, while going 4-0 in the past four against teams with a winning overall record. However, the 'over' has connected in seven of their past eight NCAA Tournament battles.

-- In this series against Minnesota the favorite has cashed in four straight, with Michigan State 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The 'under' is also 20-7 in the past 27 meetings in this series, including back on Feb. 9.

-- The Spartans have enjoyed quite a bit of success in the Round of 32 under Tom Izzo, going 13-3 over the past 16 in the second round dating back to 1998.

-- Minnesota (22-13 SU, 18-17 ATS) picked an 86-76 upset win over Louisville from the ACC in Round 1, winning as a five-point underdog as the 'over' (137.5) came through.

-- The key to Minnesota's success in the opening round was their outstanding scoring balance. Five players were in double figures, led by Gabe Kalscheur with 24 points and eight rebounds. Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy each contributed 18 points and six rebounds apiece, while Dupree McBrayer and Daniel Oturu each ended the day with 13 points. The Gophers ended up hitting 29-of-58 (50.0 percent) from the field while staying even with Louisville 32-32 in the rebounds category. They'll need that kind of balance and shooting if they hope to knock off their conference rivals.

-- Minnesota struggled on offense this season, ranking 216th in the nation with just 71.2 PPG, while hitting 43.9 percent from the field and just 32.5 percent from behind the arc. They're also a dismal free-throw shooting side, ranking 279th in the countrywith just a 67.9 percent mark.

-- The Gophers enter the game with a +5.7 rebound margin, and they held opponents to 69.4 PPG to check in a mediocre 124th in the nation.

-- The Golden Gophers have managed a 4-1 ATS mark over the past five neutral-site battles, while cashing in five of the past seven overall. However, they're just 7-17 ATS in the past 24 following a cover, and 2-5 ATS in their past seven NCAA Tournament battles despite their win and cover vs. Louisville.

-- The 'over' has cashed in four straight NCAA Tournament games for the Gophers, although the under is 9-4 in the past 13 against conference opponents. The under is also 21-7 in the past 28 games against teams with a winning overall mark.


South Region (Hartford, CT)

No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 3 Purdue (TNT, 9:00 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Purdue -3?, 137

-- The defending national champions from Villanova (26-9 SU, 21-14 ATS) kicked off their title defense with a gritty 61-57 win against St. Mary's (Calif.) in Round 1 as the 'under' (127) connected.

-- The Wildcats saw Phil Booth go for 20 points, six rebounds and two steals with just two turnovers in the first game, hitting 7-for-13 from the field. Eric Paschall stepped up with 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of 3-pointers, while Jermaine Samuels contributed with 12 points and seven rebounds while also added a pair of triples. 'Nova ended up 8-for-20 from the perimeter, while shooting just 55.6 percent from the charity stripe.

-- These teams last met on Nov. 14, 2016 when the Wildcats came away with a 79-76 victory.

-- Villanova has posted an impressive 11-2 ATS mark in their past 13 battles against Big Ten teams, and they're 14-3 ATS in the past 17 NCAA Tournament games, including Thursday's victory. They have also covered 39 of their past 54 non-conference tilts, and 37 of the previous 55 on a neutral court.

-- The 'over has connected in four of the past five overall, but the 'under' is 12-3-1 in their past 16 non-conference battles and seven of the past 10 on a neutral-site court.

-- Purdue (24-9 SU, 18-14 ATS) narrowly earned a cover at most shops with a 61-48 win against Old Dominion in the first round.

-- The Boilermakers struggled at the offensive end against ODU, hitting just 20-of-53 (37.7 percent) from the field, and they were just 9-of-30 (30.0 percent) from behind the three-point line. That includes an utterly brutal shooting night from Ryan Cline who ended up 2-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-11 from behind the arc. He finished with five points, seven rebounds and four assists with only one turnover. Matt Haarms picked up some of the slack with 13 points, four boards and a 5-for-6 shooting night while also swatting two shots. As per usual it was the Carsen Edwards show, as he posted a game-high 26 points while hitting four triples. He also added seven rebounds, four assists and two steal, and he is someone 'Nova will need to track early and often.

-- The Boilers are 39-19 ATS across their past 58 games outside of the conference, but they're just 2-7 ATS in the past nine games against Big East foes. Purdue is also 2-5 ATS in the past seven games against winning teams while going just 1-4 ATS in the past five after a cover in their previous outing.

-- The over has hit in seven of Purdue's past nine NCAA Tournament battles while hitting in six of their past eight against Big East teams. The over is also 38-17-1 in the past 56 neutral-site battles for the Boilermakers.


Midwest Region (Salt Lake City, UT)

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 4 Kansas (TBS, 9:45 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Auburn -2, 147?

-- Auburn (27-9 SU, 18-16 ATS) tried their damnedest to blow the game to New Mexico State in the opening round, but the Aggies wouldn't accept the invitation to the second round. Auburn held on for a strange 78-77 win in a game no one seemed to be able to finish.

-- The Tigers had four players in double digits on Thursday, including 17 from Jared Harper. He was 6-for-11 from the field, and 4-for-8 from behind the three-point line, while also contributing four assists before fouling out in 31 minutes. J'Von McCormick stepped up off the bench, dumping in 16 points while making his only triple and hitting all three of his free-throw attempts. That was a rarity, as the Tigers were a dismal 14-for-21 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

-- The Tigers have still managed a 5-2 ATS mark across the past seven despite a non-cover in the first round. Auburn has managed a 1-6 ATS mark across their past seven non-conference games, but they're 4-1 ATS in the past five against Big 12 foes.

-- Kansas (26-9 SU, 17-18 ATS) had a trying regular season, not sitting atop the Big 12 perch like we've been used to seeing. However, they certainly looked like a perennial contender in their dismantling of Northeastern in Round 1, winning 87-53 to easily cover a seven-point number as the 'under' (142.5) connected by a whisker.

-- The Jayhawks shot 55.7 percent in the opening round, hitting 34 of their 61 attempts from the field. They also ended up 8-of-22 from behind the three-point line and they were a very tidy 11-of-12 from the free-throw stripe. Dedric Lawson led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds against the undersized Huskies, while Devon Dotson chipped in with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals over 30 minutes. Ochai Agbaji and K.J. Lawson were each able to contribute 13 points, too.

-- The Jayhawks have posted a 4-1 ATS mark in the past five games overall, and they're 6-2 ATS in the past eight neutral-site battles. However, they are 5-11 ATS in the past 16 following a straight-up win, and they're 0-4 ATS in their past four games following a victory by 20 or more points.

-- The 'over' has been a common theme for the Jayhawks lately, hitting in four of the past five NCAA Tournament games. The over is also 12-5-1 in the past 18 non-conference battles, while going 7-2 in the past nine against teams with a winning percentage over .600 and 10 of the past 14 games overall.

-- This is the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the hardwood.

 

[Cnotes53]

CBB MARCH MADNESS RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS !

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/22/2019 12-15-0 44.44% -22.50
03/21/2019 15-12-1 55.56% +900
03/20/2019 10-14-0 41.67% -27.00
03/19/2019 9-14-1 39.13% -32.00
03/18/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00

Totals..............48-55-2......46.60%.....-62.50


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BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS................... ..UNITS..................O/U..................UNITS.............TOTALS

03/22/2019.............5 - 6......................-8.00..................5 - 6...................-8.00................-16.00
03/21/2019.............6 - 3......................+8.50.................3 - 7...................-23.50..............-15.00
03/20/2019.............3 - 7......................-23.00.................1 - 1...................-0.50................-23.50
03/19/2019.............5 - 5......................-2.50...................2 - 6..................-23.00...............-25.50
03/18/2019.............1 - 0......................+5.00..................1 - 0..................+5.00..............+10.00


Totals....................20 - 21.....................-20.00................12 - 20................-50.00..............-70.00


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[Cnotes53]

 

[Cnotes53]

SATURDAY, MARCH 23
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

ARK at IND 12:00 PM
IND -5.5
O 145.5

MD at LSU 12:10 PM
LSU -3.0
O 147.5

LIP at UNCG 02:00 PM
LIP +0.0
U 155.5

WOF at UK 02:40 PM
WOF +5.0
O 140.5

FLA at MICH 05:15 PM
FLA +6.0
O 124.5

MURR at FSU 06:10 PM
MURR +4.5
O 147.5

 

[Cnotes53]

EVENING BEST BETS !

FIU at TXST 07:00 PM
FIU +7.0
U 153.5

BAY at GONZ 07:10 PM
GONZ -14.0
U 148.5

MINN at MSU 07:45 PM
MSU -10.5
U 139.5

VILL at PUR 08:40 PM
VILL +3.5
O 138.0

AUB at KU 09:40 PM
KU +2.0
O 146.0

 

[Cnotes53]

CBB MARCH MADNESS RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS !

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/23/2019 8-14-0 36.36% -37.00
03/22/2019 12-15-0 44.44% -22.50
03/21/2019 15-12-1 55.56% +900
03/20/2019 10-14-0 41.67% -27.00
03/19/2019 9-14-1 39.13% -32.00
03/18/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00

Totals..............56-69-2......44.80%.....-99.50


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BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS................... ..UNITS..................O/U..................UNITS.............TOTALS

03/23/2019.............3 - 6......................-18.00.................4 - 5...................-7.50................-25.50
03/22/2019.............5 - 6......................-8.00...................5 - 6...................-8.00................-16.00
03/21/2019.............6 - 3......................+8.50..................3 - 7...................-23.50..............-15.00
03/20/2019.............3 - 7......................-23.00.................1 - 1...................-0.50................-23.50
03/19/2019.............5 - 5......................-2.50...................2 - 6..................-23.00...............-25.50
03/18/2019.............1 - 0......................+5.00..................1 - 0..................+5.00..............+10.00


Totals....................23 - 27.....................-38.00................16 - 25................-57.50..............-95.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Sunday?s 6-pack

Conference record in first round of NCAA tournament:

? ACC: 5-2 SU, 1-6 vs spread.

? Big 14: 7-1 SU, 5-3 vs spread

? Big X, 4-2, SU, 4-2 vs spread

? Big East: 1-2 SU, 0-2-1 vs spread (also lost play-in game)

? Pac-12: 2-1 SU, 2-1 vs spread (also won play-in game)

? SEC: 5-2 SU, 2-5 vs spread

Tweet of the Day
?It?s very hard [to dunk on me]. I mean, I won?t allow it. I won?t allow it. I won?t allow him putting me on one of his highlight tapes.?
UCF?s 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, talking about Zion Williamson

Sunday?s quiz
Which college basketball team lost by the most points in the NCAA tournament the year after it won the championship?

Saturday?s quiz
Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Friday?s quiz
Reds? manager David Bell was in Seattle?s starting lineup when Ichiro Suzuki played his first game for the Mariners in 2001.

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Sunday?s List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday??

13) Thursday in Las Vegas, a courageous human wagered $500,000 on Michigan on the money line, which means all they have to do is win, no point spread; when Wolverines beat Montana, he banked $27,777.

On Friday, he took that $527,777 and put it all on Texas Tech on the money line, where he collected $37,698. Didn?t have to sweat in either game, either.

12) LSU 69, Maryland 67? Tony Benford is the interim coach at LSU; he was coach at North Texas for five years, going 62-95, 30-60 in conference games.

He looks a lot smarter coaching the players he recruited for LSU. Let?s say the Tigers make a run to the Final Four; would Benford become this generation?s Steve Fisher? Fisher took over the Michigan squad just before the NCAA?s in 1989 and won the national title with them, getting himself the full-time job the next year.

11) Kentucky 62, Wofford 56? You look at Wofford?s success this year, and fact that Furman, NC-Greensboro and East Tennessee State are all solid programs, and you?d wish ESPN would show some SoCon games on national TV during the winter.

I know the games are all on ESPN+, but they deserve national recognition.

Wofford?s best 3-point shooter is Fletcher Magee; he made more 3-pointers than anyone ever in college ball, but he was 0-12 behind the arc in this game. He was 7-12 against Seton Hall.

10) Michigan 64, Florida 49? When you take 26 3-pointers and two foul shots, it is really hard to win. Have to make an awful lot of those 3?s. Gators were 9-26 on arc, 2-2 on foul line.

Teams that advance deep into the tournament often get some help along the way; Florida beat Nevada in first round, giving Michigan an easier 2nd round opponent.

9) Florida State 90, Murray State 62? Seminoles are deep, athletic and on a mission, after one of their teammates lost his dad this week. FSU won 16 of its last 18 games- their next game vs Gonzaga will be very interesting.

Ja Morant is about to become really rich; Murray State had a great 28-5 season. Racers went 54-11 in Morant?s two seasons; they were 33-31 in the two seasons before he got there.

8) Gonzaga 83, Baylor 71? Zags are in Sweet 16 for fifth year in a row; they?re this generation?s version of Jerry Tarkanian?s UNLV teams? they dominate a cruddy league, and play well on the national stage in pre-conference games and in March. They also get a lot of transfers, because kids don?t want to play on losing teams.

End of a unique college career for Baylor?s Makai Mason, who played in NCAA?s for two teams, Yale/Baylor. When he was at Yale, he scored 31 points AGAINST Baylor when the Bulldogs upset Baylor in an NCAA tournament game in 2016.

7) Michigan State 70, Minnesota 50? Another case where a first round upset gave the favorite in the second round an easier game. Gophers went 2-22 on the arc, didn?t offer much resistance.

I would be in favor of a rule where only eight teams from any conference can make the NCAA?s; if you can?t finish 8th in your league, how can you be allowed to play for a national title? This will never happen, because the big $$$ leagues have clout, but it would be a good idea.

6) Purdue 87, Villanova 61? Boilermakers have two guards who take a ton of 3?s; Carson Edwards has taken 347 3?s (34.6%), Ryan Cline has taken 251 (40.6%). They combined to make 13-24 in this game, a surprisingly easy win.

Major tank job by Villanova; Purdue opened 2nd half on a 16-0 run. Wildcats won two of last three national titles, but other than those two years, they?ve lost their last five second round games. Big East has been mercifully eliminated from this tournament.

5) Auburn 89, Kansas 75? Tigers scored 28 points in first 7:57 of this game, made Charles Barkley?s night by whipping the Jayhawks. This game was 51-25 at halftime!!!!

There are rumors that Bill Self is going to try his hand in the NBA next season, especially if the NCAA is nipping at Kansas? heels.

4) Justin Verlander got a 2-year, $66M extension from the Astros Saturday, so it was a good day for him and his wife, Kate Upton.

3) After the first round of the NCAA?s, there were only nine perfect brackets on ESPN?s contest, out of 17.2 million entries.

2) A?s-Mariners played 12 innings in Tokyo Thursday; Japanese pro baseball has tie games- wonder what the Japanese fans think about playing games until there is a winner, the way it is done here?

1) The 68 teams in the NCAA tournament represent 37 different states.

 

[Cnotes53]

Sunday - Session 1
March 23, 2019
By David Schwab

South Region (Columbus, OH)
No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 2 Tennessee (CBS, 12:10 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Tennessee -8, 156

Betting Matchup

Iowa drew the No. 10 seed in the South Region after dropping its last four regular season games both straight-up and against the spread. The Hawkeyes lost to Michigan 74-53 as eight-point underdogs in their second game of the recent Big Ten Tournament. In a tough opening round matchup against a hot Cincinnati team, Iowa pulled off a stunning 79-72 upset as a 4 ?-point underdog. This was just the second time in the Hawkeyes? last 11 games that they were able to cover the closing number. The total has gone OVER in five of their last eight games.

Facing an 18-5 deficit early in Friday?s game, credit veteran head coach Fran McCaffery for keeping his team focused on the task at hand. You can also credit forward Luka Garza and guard Joe Wieskamp for the upset after combining for 39 points.

The second seed in the South had its hands full in Friday?s opener against the Patriot League?s Colgate Red Raiders in a 77-70 victory as heavy 17 ?-point favorites. After losing to Auburn 84-64 in the SEC Tournament?s title game as a five-point favorite, Tennessee is 4-8 ATS over its last 12 games. The total went OVER 146 ? points in Friday?s win and it has gone OVER in its last five contests. The Volunteers are 1-3 ATS in their last four games closing as favorites.

Forward Grant Williams has been Tennessee?s leading scorer all season long with 18.7 points per game, but guard Admiral Schofield led the way against Colgate with 19 points. Williams ended that game with just nine points and Schofield is the team?s second-leading scorer with 16.3 PPG.

Betting Trends

-- The Hawkeyes are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 neutral-site games and the total has stayed UNDER in their last five games against a SEC team.

-- The Volunteers have gone 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games against the Big Ten with the total going OVER in their last four games played at a neutral site.

-- The last time these two teams met was in the 2014 NCAA Tournament with Tennessee winning 78-65 as a two-point underdog. The total stayed UNDER 143 ? points.

Midwest Region (Columbus, OH)
No. 9 Washington vs. No. 1 North Carolina (CBS, 2:40 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: North Carolina -11 ?, 146

Betting Matchup

Washington had been the class of the Pac-12 during the regular season at 15-3 SU in the standings, but a run to the tournament title was cut short in a 68-48 loss to Oregon as a two-point underdog in the conference championship game. Heading into this tournament, the Huskies had failed to cover in six of their previous seven games, but they beat up on Utah State 78-61 on Friday closing as 3 ?-point underdogs. Washington improved to 4-2 ATS in its last six games as an underdog.

The Huskies have a trio of players that averaged at least 12 points a game during the regular season led by guard Jaylen Nowell with 16.3 points. He put up 19 points on Friday while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Noah Dickerson (12.4 PPG) led the way with 20 points.

Following a sluggish start, the Tar Heels looked sharp in the second half of their tournament opener as the top seed in the Midwest Region. They beat Iona 88-73, but came nowhere close to covering the hefty 24 ?-point closing spread. This was the first time North Carolina failed to cover in its last five games and it has now won nine of its last 10 games SU. The only loss was against the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament. The total has stayed UNDER in four of its last five contests.

North Carolina did outscore Iona by 20 points in the second half after falling behind 38-33 in the first 20 minutes of play. Cameron Johnson scored 23 points in that recent loss to Duke and he added 21 more points on Friday while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. The senior guard led the Tar Heels in scoring all year long with an average of 17.1 PPG.

Betting Trends

-- The Huskies have an 8-3 record ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games and the total has gone OVER in five of their last six games against the ACC.

-- The Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games in the NCAA Tournament with the total staying UNDER in 13 of their last 16 games played on Sunday.

-- In one previous meeting back in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, North Carolina beat Washington 86-83 as a four-point favorite with the total going OVER 159 points.

 

[Cnotes53]

Sunday - Session 2
March 24, 2019
By Kevin Rogers

East Region (Columbia, SC)
No. 9 UCF vs. No. 1 Duke (CBS, 5:15 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Duke -13, 143 ?

Three top seeds take the court on Sunday, highlighted by the Blue Devils (30-5 SU, 18-16-1 ATS), who have won all four games since freshman star Zion Williamson returned to the lineup. Duke lost three games down the stretch without Williamson, including two defeats to rival North Carolina, but the Blue Devils have won three times by double-digits, capped off by Friday?s 85-62 blowout of 16th-seed North Dakota State.

Duke failed to cash as 27-point favorites, as the Blue Devils led the Bison at halftime, 31-27. The Blue Devils blew it open in the second half by outscoring the Summit League champions, 54-35, while Williamson paced Duke with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the floor. R.J. Barrett led the Blue Devils with 26 points as Duke won by at least 20 points in the opening round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons.

UCF (24-8 SU, 19-12-1 ATS) put together a poor showing in the AAC tournament by losing 77-59 to Memphis, but the Knights bounced back nicely in Friday?s 73-58 blowout of VCU. Not only did the Knights to pick up their first ever NCAA tournament win, but they built a 10-point halftime lead over the Atlantic 10 regular season champions, while limiting VCU to 31% shooting from the floor.

Duke reached the Elite Eight last season, but was bounced by South Carolina in the second round two seasons ago. The Blue Devils are currently on a 14-4 UNDER run, but have covered only three times in the 12 games. UCF is riding a 9-2 ATS hot stretch, which includes victories over Cincinnati and Houston. The Knights have covered in three of their last four opportunities in the underdog role, as UCF hooks up with Duke for the first time ever.

West Region (Tulsa, OK)
No. 6 Buffalo vs. No. 3 Texas Tech (TNT, 6:10 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Texas Tech -4, 146

One of the more intriguing matchups in the round of 32 involves a pair of teams that combined for 59 wins this season. Buffalo (32-3 SU, 19-14-1 ATS) made quick work of Arizona State in Friday?s first round blowout, 91-74 as five-point favorites, marking the second straight season that the Bulls have eliminated a Pac-12 team in the Big Dance. The Bulls extended their winning streak to 13 games, while grabbing their third cover in four contests since an 0-4 ATS skid to end the regular season.

Texas Tech (27-6 SU, 16-16-1 ATS) was one-and-done in the Big 12 tournament after getting stunned by last-place West Virginia as 13-point favorites, 79-74 last week. The Red Raiders rebounded with a 72-57 triumph over Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky to barely cash as 13-point favorites on Friday. Jarrett Culver led the Red Raiders with 29 points, while Tech shot 52% from the field to pick up their ninth cover in the past 12 games.

The Red Raiders reached the Sweet 16 last season before getting knocked out by eventual champion Villanova, while Buffalo was drubbed by Kentucky, 95-75 in the second round in 2018. The Bulls weren?t listed as an underdog during Mid-American Conference play, while beating Syracuse and West Virginia as a ?dog in non-conference play.

Texas Tech has covered eight consecutive games as a single-digit favorite dating back to January 28, while compiling a 9-2 ATS mark the last 11 contests since getting blown out at Kansas in early February. The last MAC team to reach the Sweet 16 was Ohio in 2012, who beat Michigan and USF before losing to North Carolina in overtime.

East Region (San Jose, CA)
No. 12 Liberty vs. No. 4 Virginia Tech (TBS, 7:10 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Virginia Tech -8 ?, 124 ?

With all the focus on Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia, the one ACC team that refuses to be overlooked is Virginia Tech. The Hokies (25-8 SU, 17-14-1 ATS) held off Saint Louis in Friday?s first round, 66-52 as 10-point favorites. Virginia Tech jumped out to a commanding 40-18 halftime lead before the Billikens made it interesting in the second half. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hokies with 20 points as Virginia Tech snapped an 0-3 ATS skid as a double-digit favorite.

Liberty (29-6 SU, 18-14 ATS) erased a 10-point second half deficit to stun Mississippi State on Friday, 80-76 as seven-point underdogs. It was the second consecutive game that the Flames needed to win to keep their season alive after downing Lipscomb in the Atlantic Sun championship as a six-point underdog. Caleb Homesley led the Flames with 30 points against the Bulldogs, while Liberty drained 12 three-pointers to record their sixth victory this season in the underdog role.

The Hokies have taken care of their business as a substantial favorite of late by cashing in four of the last six opportunities as seven-point chalk or higher. Virginia Tech advanced past the first round under Buzz Williams for the first time since he became head coach after losing to Wisconsin in 2017 and Alabama in 2018.

Liberty finally broke through for an NCAA tournament win for the first time in school history after losing in their first three appearances. The Flames last faced the Hokies in 2014 as Virginia Tech escaped with a 73-63 victory in Blacksburg.

 

[Cnotes53]

Looking for Cinderella? Check Anteaters
March 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Can anyone carry the Loyola-Chicago mantle deep into this NCAA Tournament? Is there a double-digit seed left that's capable of grabbing the nation's imagination? Maybe one with an unusual nickname?

Check out the South Region.

There sits a big underdog with a distinctive mascot - the only anteater in the bracket, let alone the entire country - and more double-digit seeds still standing than in any other region. And at least one of them is guaranteed to make the Sweet 16.

Start with UC Irvine.

The No. 13 Anteaters have the highest seed left in the tournament. They're coming off a 70-64 win over Kansas State, and they face No. 12 Oregon on Sunday in San Jose, so one of them is headed for the Sweet 16.

The other double-digit seed in the South - No. 10 Iowa - knocked off Cincinnati in its opener and will face Tennessee on Sunday in Columbus.

Which of them has the ingredients to go viral in March? The Anteaters - OK, make that the `Eaters, as they call themselves - have some things in common with those Ramblers of last year.

Loyola-Chicago was a No. 11 seed in the same region. The Ramblers also beat Kansas State - another connection - to reach the Final Four. With the beloved nun Sister Jean rooting from courtside, the Ramblers became the nation's basketball darlings and only the fourth No. 11 to reach a Final Four.

The Ramblers weren't even second fiddle in the Windy City. The `Eaters? Way down the pecking order in the Golden State. So there's that parallel, too.

''UC Irvine folks, I don't know, live in the shadow, live like little brothers to UCLA and SC and maybe some others, Cal, Stanford, San Diego State,'' ninth-year Anteaters coach Russell Turner said. ''Well, little brother has been in the weight room getting better, getting ready for a chance like this.''

The South bracket feels more open than the others.

The winner of UC Irvine-Oregon will head to Louisville to face either No. 1 Virginia or Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. Virginia has shown itself capable of being on the wrong end of a big upset, becoming the first No. 1 to lose to a 16th seed last year against UMBC. Virginia struggled to get past Gardner-Webb in an opening game on Friday.

One more notable thread in the South: Virginia was in Loyola-Chicago's bracket last year.

An upset by the Anteaters would give basketball fans time to get acquainted with their unique name. Students voted in 1965 to become the first school represented by an anteater.

''It's very unique,'' guard Evan Leonard said. ''It's very different. But you know we usually like to take off the `ant' and just say `Eaters.' So I feel like `Eater Nation,' stuff like that, is pretty cool.''

What about folks who also want to give them that Cinderella label?

''We don't see ourselves that way,'' guard Robert Cartwright said. ''But we understand that might come with our seeding.''

Some other things to watch Sunday as the East Region wraps up the weekend:

`EATERS' FOE: Oregon has much more of an NCAA pedigree than UC Irvine, but the Ducks also were a long shot to make the tournament. They upset No. 5 Wisconsin - the only Big Ten team to lose in the opening round out of eight entrants from the conference - and are looking to extend their surge that includes the Pac-12 Tournament title as part of a nine-game winning streak.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Iowa felt like it was playing a road game during the Hawkeyes' 79-72 win over Cincinnati with thousands of Bearcats fans packing Nationwide Arena. Tennessee also will have a lot of fans on Sunday, turning it into something other than a neutral court. Iowa is trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 20 years.

''It would be tremendous,'' coach Fran McCaffrey said. ''We've come close.''

NO, VIRGINIA, NOT AGAIN: The Cavaliers will have that historic upset hanging over their heads until they make it deep into the tournament. Next up: No. 9 seed Oklahoma, which ran up a season-high in points for a 95-72 win over Mississippi State.

Oklahoma doesn't want any of those longshot comparisons.

''I don't want to say this is a Cinderella story,'' senior guard Christian James said.

 

[Udog]

 

[Udog]

NCAA National Invitation Tournament Betting Trends:

Favorites are 13-6 S/U but just 8-11 ATS.
O/U is 10-9 so far in the tournament.


College Insider Postseason Tournament Betting Trends

Favorites are 8-3 S/U and 5-6 ATS so far in the tournament.
Meanwhile O/U is 8-3.


College Basketball Invitational Betting Trends

Favorites are 8-0 S/U but are just 4-4 ATS so far in the tournament.
Meanwhile O/U is 5-3.

 

[Udog]

Sunday - Session 3
March 24, 2019
By Tony Mejia

South Region - Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena
#9 Oklahoma vs. #1 Virginia - 7:45 PM EST - CBS

Opening Odds: Virginia -11, 127

-- Virginia (30-3 SU, 18-15 ATS) gave its fan base a horrible case of deja vu before getting it together to pull off a 71-56 victory over Gardner-Webb. The Cavaliers, in their first NCAA Tournament sice gaining national notoriety by becoming the first No. 1 seed to ever lose to a 16, put themselves in danger of a repeat performance with an awful start that saw them behind 26-14 at one point and down 36-30 at halftime.

-- Virginia didn't cover, but considering the burden it had to overcome after being haunted all offseason by the disaster vs. UMBC, it is likely to feel more comfortable looking to get to a Sweet 16 against a fellow high-major. ACC Defensive Player of the Year De'Andre Hunter, who was out for the 2018 NCAA Tournament and is the team's top pro prospect, delivered 23 points and six rebounds. X-factor Mamadi Diakite came off the bench and finished with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting, adding a team-high nine rebounds.

-- Oklahoma (20-13 SU, 20-10-3 ATS) overcame losing Trae Young to the pros with a collective approach and started fast, opening 11-1 with victories over a number of fellow big boys, Florida, USC and Creighton chief among them. The Sooners struggled in Big 12 play and were 2-6 between Jan. 28 and the beginning of March before closing with a big win over Kansas that secured their at-large bid in a year where there was a soft bubble.

-- Oklahoma destroyed Ole Miss 95-71 in the Round of 32, putting together the highest-scoring game of the tournament thus far. The Sooners shot over 57 percent from the field and had four players score at least 18 points. Rashard Odomes led the way, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes.

-- Christian James is averaging 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds to lead the way for the Sooners and also scored 20 against Ole Miss. Kristian Doolittle averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds and came up with 19 points and team-highs of 15 rebounds and five assists.

-- Oklahoma is 0-9 when scoring fewer than 63 points and 20-4 when scoring at least 63, but Virginia leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 55.1 points per game. Opponents shoot just 27.5 percent from 3-point range against the Cavaliers, the second-best defensive clip in the country. The Cavaliers are 28-0 when holding opponents to 44 percent or worse from the field, and 2-3 when opponents shoot better than that. The Sooners are 13-0 when they score at least 75 points and are 7-13 when falling short of that number, but Virginia has only allowed 70 or more points on three occasions.

-- The Virginia offense has recorded a turnover on only 15.1 percent of its possessions, the 14th-lowest rate in the country. They employ the slowest pace in all of college basketball but shoot over 40 percent from 3-point range, ranking fourth nationally.

-- Oklahoma has won 20 games under Lon Kruger's watch for the fifth time in his eight seasons but just the first time since reaching the Final Four in 2016. He also reached a Final Four with Florida and has led three other teams into the NCAAs (K-State, Illinois, UNLV). Tony Bennett is in his seventh NCAA Tournament with Virginia but has reached the Sweet 16 just three times. He got there once with Washington State.

-- The Sooners and Cavaliers were on opposite sides of the bracket in the Battle 4 Atlantis down in the Bahamas around Thanksgiving but didn't play one another. Bennett remembers being impressed with Oklahoma's collective size. The Sooners have gone 2-3 against No. 1 seeds in their history and are 1-2 against Virginia, last playing in Hawai'i back in 2010. While Bennett was in place, Jeff Capel coached the Sooners.

-- The 'over' is on a 4-1 run in Virginia games and only fell short last time out against Gardner-Webb by a single point.

-- Virginia entered the NCAA Tournament with 6/1 odds to win it all, per the Westgate Superbook. The Cavaliers' odds were even with UNC for third-best behind Duke (9/4) and Gonzaga (9/2). Oklahoma was slotted at 500-to-1.

Midwest Region - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
#12 Ohio State vs. #4 Houston - 8:40 PM EST - TNT

Opening Odds: Houston -5.5, 132.5

-- While Houston (32-3 SU, 21-12-2 ATS) fell in the AAC Championship game against Cincinnati, it never game Georgia State an inkling of hope on Friday night, posting a dominant 84-55 win over the 14th-seeded Sun Belt champs.

-- Ohio State (20-14 SU, 15-19 ATS) pulled off an upset over Iowa State, escaping 62-59 when the Cyclones missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The game was there to be had for both teams down the stretch but ultimately swung as Kaleb Wesson made big plays as the driving force with a 21-point, 12-rebound night. Wake Forest grad transfer Keyshawn Woods scored 19 and played all 40 minutes. This is the lowest they've ever been seeded at the NCAAs.

-- The Buckeyes got Wesson back from suspension for the Big Ten Tournament and immediately sealed their at-large bid by holding off Indiana 79-75 after nearly blowing a huge lead over the final minutes. They lost to Michigan State again, but had slid into the field as one of the last few teams deemed worthy of an at-large bid. Ohio State went 0-3 without Wesson, getting outscored by a combined margin of 59 points in losing to Purdue, Northwestern and Wisconsin.

-- The Cougars have never defeated Ohio State but would reach their first Sweet 16 since 1984 with a victory here. The Hakeem Olajuwon-led version is getting some company an can re-write the school-record for wins with their 33rd if they survive the Buckeyes.

-- Houston's calling card is a defense that ranks seventh nationally in points per game allowed (61.1) in addition to the lowest field-goal percentage defense (.365) and top 3-point percentage defense in the country (.275).

-- Offensively, the Cougars are led by point guard Galen Robinson, who will set a school-record with his 135th career game. He's scoring just 7.8 points and isn't a great shooter but leads the team in assists (4.9) and is one of those old-school point guards who controls pace at both ends. Corey Davis, Jr. is the top scorer (16.9 ppg), but junior Armani Brooks (13.3 ppg) isn't far behind and can similarly light teams up from the perimeter.

-- Forward Fabian White and center Breaon Brady, who each averaged 6.3 points per game, combined to shoot 11-for-15 and delivered 27 points and 19 rebounds in the rout of Georgia State. They'll be tasked with stopping the Wesson boys in a game where what happens in the post will dicate an awful lot.

-- Ohio State is 11-0 when it holds an opponent to 61 points or fewer, but ended a stretch of a seven straight games allowing 68 or more with its 62-59 upset of Iowa State.

-- Houston was 40/1 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, while Ohio State came in at 1,000/1.

-- The 'under' is on a 4-0 run in Houston games, part of a 9-3 stretch over the last 12. The 'over' is 6-2 through the Buckeyes' last eight contests.

South Region - San Jose, CA - SAP Center
#13 UC Irvine vs. #12 Oregon - 9:40 PM EST - TBS

Opening Odds: Oregon -4.5, 124.5

-- Facing must-win situations has become the norm for Oregon (24-12 SU, 21-15 ATS) for weeks since they went into February's final day 15-12, on a three-game losing streak and destined for the NIT. The Ducks haven't lost since, bringing a nine-game winning streak into the only Round of 32 matchup featuring two double-digit seeds as the favorite in the matchup.

-- UC-Irvine (20-13 SU, 21-14 ATS) has won 17 consecutive games, the nation's longest winning streak, last dropping a game on Jan. 16. The Anteaters defeated Kansas State in the Round of 64, hitting nine 3-pointers and getting 19 points apiece from guards Evan Leonard and Max Hazzard. Leonard added team-highs of six boards, four assists and four steals while draining five 3-pointers. The junior has repeated as the team's leading scorer this season and is shooting a team-high 41 percent from 3-point range.

-- Both teams are on fantastic cover streaks and cashed as underdogs on Friday. The Ducks have covered in all nine of their wins on their current winning streak. The Anteaters have delivered in 12 of 15 games and have won their last 12 by six or more points.

UC-Irvine's 70-64 win over K-State featured a strong second-half effort where it held up down the stretch, while Oregon steamrolled Wisconsin 72-54. The Badgers shot 6-for-30 from 3-point range. While the Ducks' defense was good, it wasn't 20 percent from beyond the arc good. The Badgers had open looks but couldn't find the range.

-- Since losing top freshman Bol Bol (21.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg) to a foot injury, the Ducks are now 18-9, but were exactly .500 before this win streak began and really struggled with their identity as guys were asked to take on new roles. Payton Pritchard has stepped up as the leader and floor general, scoring in double-digits in nine of 10 and averaging 16.3 points and 5.5 assists during that span.

-- Freshman Louis King, who like Bol was a five-star recruit, has really blossomed since the calendar hit 2019, emerging as a versatile go-to threat in averaging 15 points and six rebounds while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-9, he can really pose issues with his ability to face up and hit all three of his 3-point attempts against Wisconsin, scoring 17 points. He's shot 7-for-12 on 3s over the last three games.

-- The Ducks really clamped down defensively to salvage their season and have allowed 54 or fewer points in seven of the nine games on their current run. They own the sixth-best 3-point percentage in the country, surrendering 29.1 percent shooting, so we'll see whether Leonard and Hazzard can find the range against the toughest defensive group they've seen this season for the second straight contest after having conquered K-State.

-- Dana Altman reached the Final Four with the Ducks in 2017 and is making his 14 NCAA Tournament appearance, making it in with Kansas State and Creighton in previous stops. He's only lost one of nine NCAA games where his team is the favorite in terms of seeding. Russ Turner will be coaching his third NCAA Tournament game, coming in 1-1 (2-0 ATS) after barely falling to Louisville in 2015. Altman is 3-0 against Turner-led UC-Irvine, with all three meetings coming at Oregon.

-- Oregon came in at 200/1 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, while UC-Irvine was 1,000-to-1.

-- Oregon is giving up 62.7 points per game, good for 16th in the country, while UC-Irvine allowed only 63.3 points, which is 19th-best. The 'under' is on a 12-3 run in Oregon games but the 'over' has actually prevailed in five of six involving the Anteaters.

 

[Udog]

Today's biggest bets and line moves: Bettors hammer Houston odds vs. Ohio State
Patrick Everson

No. 3 seed Houston posted a 29-point blowout of Georgia State on Friday, catching the attention of bettors. The Cougars opened -5.5 for Sunday's game against Ohio State and were bet up to -6.

A 48-game college basketball joyride that started Thursday wraps up Sunday, with eight games that will set the rest of the March Madness Sweet Sixteen field. Covers checks in on the action and odds movement for several of those contests, with insights from Scott Shelton, sportsbook supervisor at The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.

No. 11 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 3 Houston Cougars ? Open: -5.5; Move: -6

Ohio State barely nabbed an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament, but took advantage of it and now has a spot in this 8:40 p.m. ET matchup. In Friday?s Midwest Region opener, the Buckeyes (20-14 SU, 15-19 ATS) took out No. 6 seed Iowa State 62-59 as 5-point underdogs.

Houston dropped just three games all season and looked the part in its opener Friday. The Cougars (32-3 SU, 22-12-1 ATS) hammered No. 14 seed Georgia State 84-55 as 12.5-point favorites.

?Ohio State-Houston is our biggest decision so far,? Shelton said. ?Seven times more money and five times more tickets on Houston. All public play on that. The public drove the line to 6.?


No. 6 Buffalo Bulls vs. No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders ? Open: -3; Move: -3.5

Buffalo is on a 13-game win streak entering this 6:10 p.m. ET meeting in the West Region. The Bulls (32-3 SU, 19-14-1 ATS) dunked No. 11 seed Arizona State 91-74 laying 5 points Friday.

Texas Tech had a surprisingly strong season in the Big 12 and carried that momentum into the Big Dance. On Friday, the Red Raiders (27-6 SU, 16-16-1 ATS) beat No. 14 seed Northern Kentucky 72-57 giving 13 points.

?Texas Tech was a close second in liability, behind Houston,? Shelton said. ?But Buffalo is starting to see some love, coming back a little bit. Money was 3/1 on Texas Tech, now it?s 2.5/1, and the ticket count is actually pretty close. We?re a small five-figure loser to Texas Tech.?
No. 13 UC Irvine Anteaters vs. No. 12 Oregon Ducks ? Open: -5.5; Move: -5; Move: -4.5; Move: -5; Move: -4.5

Two teams that, by seeding at least, aren?t supposed to be in this 9:40 p.m. ET second-round tilt are indeed in it. UC Irvine has won 17 in a row, going a stout 12-4-1 ATS in that stretch. The Anteaters (31-5 SU, 21-13-1 ATS) stunned No. 4 seed Kansas State 70-64 getting 3.5 points in a Friday South Region tilt.

Oregon is rolling on the floor and against the oddsmakers, winning and covering nine in a row. The Ducks (24-12 SU, 21-15 ATS) were knotted at 25 with No. 5 seed Wisconsin at halftime Friday, then scored 47 second-half points en route to a 72-54 rout catching 2 points.

?That one is actually pretty good two-way action,? Shelton said of pointspread play. ?Ticket count is skewed toward Oregon. The public is on Oregon, sharps on UCI.?


No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers ? Open: -11; Move: None

Virginia was dealt arguably the most shocking loss in NCAA Tournament history last year, when as a No. 1 seed, it bowed out to No. 16 seed Maryland-Baltimore County. This time around, the Cavaliers (30-3 SU, 23-10 ATS) trailed No. 16 Gardner-Webb 36-30 at recess, but put the clamps down in the second half to notch a 71-56 victory as 22.5-point favorites Friday.

Oklahoma advanced to this 7:45 p.m. ET South Region matchup in very convincing fashion Friday. The Sooners (20-13 SU, 20-10-3 ATS) jumped out to a 50-33 halftime lead over No. 8 seed Mississippi and coasted to a 95-72 victory in a pick ?em game.

?The money is incredibly close, within a thousand dollars,? Shelton said. ?Right now, great two-way action on the spread and even on the moneyline.?


No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers ? Open: -8; Move: None

Tennessee bounced back from a blowout loss to Auburn in the Southeastern Conference final, though not without a challenge to open South Region play. The Volunteers (30-5 SU, 17-16-1 ATS) built a 12-point halftime lead against Colgate, gave 10 of those points back in the second half, but ultimately got the 77-70 win laying 17.5 points Friday.

Iowa barely found its way into the NCAA Tourney after going 1-5 SU and ATS in its previous six games, but righted the ship Friday. The Hawkeyes (23-11 SU, 14-20 ATS) were 4.5-point pups against No. 7 seed Cincinnati and snagged a 79-72 victory.

?Money is 2/1 in favor of Tennessee, ticket count is approaching 2/1 on Tennessee,? Shelton said of this 12:10 p.m. ET tip, the first game of the day. ?It?s a mid-five-figure decision, but not a big sweat.?

 

[Udog]

Sunday's odds and best bets for South Region Round 2
Rohit Ponnaiya

It definitely feels like March Madness with favorites going 0-6 against the spread in the South Region in Friday's NCAA Tournament action. We bring you the odds, predictions and best bets for Round 2 on Sunday as Iowa plays Tennessee, Oklahoma takes on Virginia and a pair of West Coast Cinderella teams battle it out in California.

(10) Iowa Hawkeyes vs (2) Tennessee Volunteers

Odds: TENN -8, 155.5
Start Time: 12:10 p.m, ET, Columbus, OH

Iowa surprised many as their offense overpowered Cincinnati in Ohio, enroute to a 79-72 win. A matter of fact Big Ten teams went 7-1 straight up in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Hawkeyes have terrific size led by big men Luke Garza and Tyler Cook down low, while perimeter players Jordan Bohannon, Jon Wieskamp, Isaiah Moss and Nicholas Baer space the floor with their outside shooting. The latter four players combine for 6.6 made 3-pointers per game at a conversion rate of 40.1 percent.

Tennessee owns one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 81.5 points per game but they also have a defense prone to lapses. They allow an average of 8.3 made 3-pointers per game on 35 percent shooting, with both of these marks outside of the top-200 teams in the country. Colgate scorched them from deep on Friday, converting on 15 of 29 shots from long range.

With Iowa averaging 78.3 ppg on the season and Tennessee giving up an average of 78.4 ppg over their last five games, back Iowa on their full game total Over 73.5.

(9) Oklahoma Sooners vs (1) Virginia Cavaliers

Odds: UVA -11, 127.5
Start Time: After the conclusion of UCF vs Duke scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET, Columbia, SC

Speaking of teams with surprising offensive performances on Friday, the Sooners exploded for a season-high 95 points against Ole Miss. They are going to have a much harder - if not impossible - time pulling that off against Virginia and their top-ranked defense which allows just 55.1 ppg and 38.1 percent shooting from the field.

In the game against Gardner-Webb, it was apparent that UVA just played out of sync and didn't take the game seriously until the second half where they outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs by 21.

Virginia had an average scoring margin of +16.7 on the season, and in 20 of their 30 wins won by a point differential of 12 or more. And Oklahoma's shooters have come up cold against top defenses scoring an average of just 58.3 ppg in six games against Kansas State, Texas Tech, Florida and Wisconsin.

The key to beating UVA's famed Pack-Line defense is having ball-handlers that can create off the dribble and outside shooters that hit three-balls with a man rushing them and a hand in the face. The Sooners haven't proven that they can do either consistently.

A telling trend is how Virginia responds to a poor performance and how Oklahoma has followed up on victories. UVA is 14-4 ATS in their last 18 games after an ATS loss, while Oklahoma is 1-4 ATS in their last five games after a straight up or ATS win. Take Virginia to win and cover the spread Sunday.

(13) UC Irvine Anteaters vs (12) Oregon Ducks

Odds: ORE -4.5, 124.5
Start Time: After the conclusion of Liberty vs Virginia Tech scheduled for 7:10 p.m ET, San Jose, CA

Two of the biggest underdog winners from Round 1 clash in San Jose on Sunday night with the Oregon Ducks 5.5-point favorites against UC Irvine.

The Anteaters are red-hot, having won 17 games in a row. They can defend and rebound as well as anyone, holding opponents to just 38.2 percent shooting (the fifth-best mark in the country) with a rebounding rate of 54.7 percent (11th best). UC Irvine also has excellent depth with nine players logging more than 16 minutes per game.

Oregon holds opponents to just 62.7 ppg on 39.9 percent shooting, including just 29.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Ducks started conference play off poorly but seem to have turned things around with nine consecutive wins ever since they went to a starting lineup featuring guard Payton Pritchard surrounded by four long forwards (all 6-foot-9 or taller) who can stretch the floor and contest shots.

In the second half of their First round game against Wisconsin they absolutely took over, scoring 47 points which is tied for their highest scoring half of the season. And they did it against a Wisconsin defense that was ranked among the best in the country.

However, the Ducks have recently struggled to seperate themselves from opponents during the first half of games; going into halftime against Wisconsin with the score tied, having a slim two point lead versus Washington in the Pac-12 title game and being down six points at half to Utah last Friday.

Back UC Irvine to keep it close early and take them on the first half spread of -3.

 

[Udog]

Sunday's odds and best bets for Midwest Region Round 2
Andrew Caley

Can Washington's 2-3 zone stop the high-octane offense of North Carolina in their Second Round matchup?

The final two spots in the Sweet 16 from the Midwest Region are up for grabs in Sunday?s March Madness action. Will Washington?s defense be able to stop North Carolina?s high-octane offense, while two defense teams do battle when Houston takes on Ohio State. We break down the odds and totals for all three games while giving predictions and best bets.

(9) WASHINGTON HUSKIES vs (1) NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Odds:
Start Time: 2:40 p.m. ET, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

There are two big questions heading into this matchup are which Washington team will show up and will the Huskies? defense be able to contain North Carolina?s high-octane offense.

Washington stumbled down the stretch but looked more like the team that won 15-of-16 at one point this season in its 78-61 opening round win over Utah State. The Huskies limited the Aggies to 35 percent shooting from the floor and forced 21 turnovers. But will they be able to keep that up against the juggernaut that is the North Carolina offense?

The Tar Heels rank third in the country in points per game at 86.1 per contest and are one of the fastest paced teams in Division I at nearly 78 possessions per game. The Tar Heels are led by Senior guard Cameron Johnson, who led the ACC and is fifth in the nation in 3-point percentage (46.5) and freshman guard Coby White. North Carolina overcame a sluggish start and dominated the second half in Friday?s 88-73 win over 16th-seeded Iona.

The only really comparable team Washington went up against this season was Gonzaga, which they put up a good fight losing 81-79. The Huskies deploy a 2-3 zone, which is comparable to that of Syracuse, which the Tar Heels were able to drop 93 points on. The key to that was North Carolina being able to beat the zone down the court and never let them get set. The strategy will be similar here. But what makes UNC so dangerous is that they still have the playmakers to attack the zone in the half court.

And while Washington ranks a formidable 19th in the KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency, eight ACC teams have similar or better ratings in that field. The Tar Heels played those teams 11 times scoring 79.9 points per game. Take the Over on their team total of 79.5.

One more thing. North Carolina is the third highest scoring second half team in the nation and their +5.2 second half road margin ranked eighth. Washington has a -4.5 second half margin on the road this season. That ranked 274th. Let?s put a play on North Carolina -4.5 on the second half spread as well.

(11) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES vs (3) HOUSTON COUGARS

Odds: HOU -5.5, 132
Start Time: 8:40 p.m. ET, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

The third-seeded Cougars seek their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1984 when they meet 11th seed Ohio State.

Houston got here on the back of its defense. It allows just 61.1 points per game (seventh best in the country) and there is no one better at getting a hand in your face than the Cougars. They limit opponents to 36.5 percent shooting from the field and a staggeringly low 27.5 percent from 3-point range.

Houston rode that defense to an 84-55 thrashing of Georgia State on Friday in the first round as senior guard Corey Davis Jr. poured in 26 points. The Cougars suffocated the Panthers, limiting them to 30 percent from the floor and 26.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Ohio State also prides itself on its defense, ranking 21st in the KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency metric and used it to upset sixth-seeded Iowa State 62-59 in Friday?s first round. Sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, giving him three double-doubles in his last four games.

But even in that slog of a game, the Buckeyes were only able to score 63 points on 39.7 percent shooting (25 percent from 3-point range) and that was against an Iowa State team that was good but not great on the defensive end. But that should come to no surprise to anyone who has followed the Buckeyes. Since the start of Big Ten play (21 games) Ohio State has averaged just 64.1 points per game. The slow pace and the stout defense in this game should keep the Buckeyes Under their team total of 63.5.

Additionally, Houston is known for getting off to good starts. It?s +7.5 first half margin away from home was fourth best in the country. While Ohio State had a -0.8 mark in that category. Take the Cougars -3 on the first half spread.

 

[Udog]

Sunday's odds and best bets for East Region Round 2
Jason Logan

The opening week of the NCAA Tournament comes to a close in the East Region with a pair of games Sunday. Jason Logan breaks down the March Madness odds for Central Florida-Duke and Liberty-Virginia Tech and gives his best bets and predictions.

NO. 9 CENTRAL FLORIDA KNIGHTS VS NO. 1 DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Odds: Duke -13, 143 at FanDuel Sportsbooks
Start Time: 5:15 p.m. ET, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina

If there?s one thing Duke doesn?t do well is shooting from outside. The Blue Devils rely on triples for just 26.2 percent of their total offensive output, which has something to do with them shooting a dismal 30.5 percent from beyond the arc.

And if there?s something Central Florida does well, it?s be big. The Knights are among the tallest teams in the nation, including 7-foot-6 gatekeeper Tacko Fall, who plugs up the middle and forces opponents to the outside.

In fact, Duke and UCF look very similar on the defensive end. Both teams have shot-blocking/shot-changing interior defenses, and both plug up the passing lanes while getting their hands on any lazy flat passes.

It may seem too easy, but I?ve got to think Under in this one. Duke remains the best Under bet in basketball, with all that firepower skewing the total for what is a premier defensive team, and Central Florida had stayed Under in four straight before playing Over versus VCU Friday.

I?m betting Under 143 Sunday.

NO. 12 LIBERTY FLAMES VS NO. 4 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

Odds: VT -9, 126
Start Time: 7:10 p.m. ET, SAP Center, San Jose, California

At first glance, this is a matchup between two of the slowest-paced teams in the land, with Liberty and Virginia Tech ranking Top 17 in lowest tempos. And we?re seeing that in this diminutive total of 126 points.

However, if you peel back the layers on these programs you see an offensive shootout just about ready to boil over ? Over the total that is. Ha ha ha?

Liberty is one of the most efficient offenses in the country and shoots a blistering 37 percent from deep. The Flames buried 12 triples in the upset win over Mississippi State and record an average of 8.5 3-point buckets an outing.

The Hokies are just as dangerous from distance, shooting 39.4 percent from downtown (8th best in the country) and tally 9.4 3-pointers per outing. Virginia Tech attempted only 10 shots from the perimeter in the win over Saint Louis Friday ? making four ? but didn?t have to lean on those long-range shots, scoring plenty in transition off 18 forced turnovers.

Given that these two teams can catch fire from deep, I see excellent value in the Over 126 Sunday night.

 

[Udog]

Sunday's odds and best bets for West Region Round 2
Brandon DuBreuil

Only one Round of 32 game in the West Region on Sunday but it should be a good one as Buffalo and Texas Tech ? two teams that looked very good in their first-round wins ? look to advance to the Sweet 16. We break down the odds and total while giving predictions and best bets.

(6) Buffalo Bulls vs (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Odds: Texas Tech -3.5, 146
Start time: 6:10 p.m. ET, Bank of Oklahoma Center, Tulsa

Like I said on Friday: If you haven?t seen Buffalo play yet this season, you are missing out. This team moves fast and scores in buckets. The Bulls play with the 10th fastest pace in the nation per KenPom?s Adjusted Tempo metric and average 85 points per game, fourth-most in the NCAA. That offense was on full display on Friday as the Bulls dropped 91 points on 51.7 percent shooting against Arizona State.

Buffalo will be challenged by Texas Tech?s stingy defense. It?s the Red Raiders? biggest strength as they hold opponents to 59.2 points per game (third-best in the nation) on 36.9 percent shooting (second-best in the nation).

So which side are you on? Great offense or great defense? Well, there?s a little more to it.

Buffalo also has a very good defense, ranked 28th in the country in KenPom?s Adjusted Defensive Efficiency metric. The Bulls also take care of the ball, giving it away just 11.8 times per game ? and Texas Tech thrives on taking the ball away with 15.7 steals per game.

Finally, let?s talk experience. Buffalo has eight seniors on its roster ? including its three top scorers ? and they know what it?s like to win in the tournament as an underdog after upsetting Arizona in the first round last season. Texas Tech?s roster has nine freshmen or sophomores, though it should be noted that those second-year players got some tournament experience in the Red Raiders? run to the Elite Eight last season.

I also like that the Bulls have played tough competition this season. In their pre-conference schedule, they played at West Virginia (99-94 win), at Syracuse (71-59 win) and at Marquette (103-85 loss). That win at Syracuse really catches my eye as the Orange always have a tough defense.

I?ve said since the bracket was released that Buffalo was going to win at least two games in the tournament ? and that was always assuming it would see Texas Tech in Round 2 ? and I?m sticking with that. Take the points and back Buffalo at +3.5.

Looking to the total, this one?s pretty simple as I believe there is serious correlation here. If Buffalo is to win, it?s likely because it gets Texas Tech off its game by turning it into a shootout. If that happens, this game goes way Over the total and that?s where my money is going.

The opposite is also true: If Texas Tech is to win it will likely do so by shutting the Bulls down. If that happens, this game goes Under. So if you?re fading my Buffalo pick, you might consider putting a few bucks on the Under as well.

 

[Udog]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Sunday, March 24

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OKLAHOMA (20 - 13) vs. VIRGINIA (30 - 3) - 3/24/2019, 7:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA is 7-20 ATS (-15.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in all games this season.
VIRGINIA is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in all lined games this season.
VIRGINIA is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
VIRGINIA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
VIRGINIA is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
VIRGINIA is 15-8 ATS (+6.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OKLAHOMA is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all lined games this season.
OKLAHOMA is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
OKLAHOMA is 12-1 ATS (+10.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
OKLAHOMA is 15-8 ATS (+6.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
VIRGINIA is 42-63 ATS (-27.3 Units) in March games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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UCF (24 - 8) vs. DUKE (30 - 5) - 3/24/2019, 5:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 136-103 ATS (+22.7 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 since 1997.
DUKE is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 227-170 ATS (+40.0 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
UCF is 34-23 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
UCF is 34-23 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
UCF is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
DUKE is 66-92 ATS (-35.2 Units) in March games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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IOWA (23 - 11) vs. TENNESSEE (30 - 5) - 3/24/2019, 12:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TENNESSEE is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 71-44 ATS (+22.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
TENNESSEE is 131-91 ATS (+30.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.
TENNESSEE is 33-53 ATS (-25.3 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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WASHINGTON (27 - 8) vs. N CAROLINA (28 - 6) - 3/24/2019, 2:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N CAROLINA is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all games this season.
N CAROLINA is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
N CAROLINA is 33-21 ATS (+9.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
N CAROLINA is 181-142 ATS (+24.8 Units) after a non-conference game since 1997.
N CAROLINA is 180-142 ATS (+23.8 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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BUFFALO (32 - 3) vs. TEXAS TECH (27 - 6) - 3/24/2019, 6:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUFFALO is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
BUFFALO is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) in a neutral court game where the total is 145 to 149.5 since 1997.
BUFFALO is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
BUFFALO is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
BUFFALO is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
BUFFALO is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS TECH is 34-53 ATS (-24.3 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 34-53 ATS (-24.3 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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OHIO ST (20 - 14) vs. HOUSTON (32 - 3) - 3/24/2019, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 20-12 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 20-12 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
HOUSTON is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) as a neutral court favorite of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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UC-IRVINE (31 - 5) vs. OREGON (24 - 12) - 3/24/2019, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in March games this season.
OREGON is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) after allowing 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
OREGON is 32-17 ATS (+13.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.
UC-IRVINE is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) when the total is 120 to 129.5 this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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LIBERTY (29 - 6) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (25 - 8) - 3/24/2019, 6:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA TECH is 25-15 ATS (+8.5 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 56-36 ATS (+16.4 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
VIRGINIA TECH is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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WICHITA ST (20 - 14) at CLEMSON (20 - 13) - 3/24/2019, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WICHITA ST is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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HARVARD (19 - 11) at NC STATE (23 - 11) - 3/24/2019, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NC STATE is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
NC STATE is 65-43 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
HARVARD is 32-21 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
HARVARD is 32-21 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
HARVARD is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
HARVARD is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
HARVARD is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
HARVARD is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HARVARD is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
HARVARD is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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XAVIER (19 - 15) at TEXAS (17 - 16) - 3/24/2019, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
XAVIER is 369-312 ATS (+25.8 Units) in all games since 1997.
XAVIER is 369-312 ATS (+25.8 Units) in all lined games since 1997.
XAVIER is 77-54 ATS (+17.6 Units) in March games since 1997.
XAVIER is 256-202 ATS (+33.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
TEXAS is 7-14 ATS (-8.4 Units) as a favorite this season.
TEXAS is 46-70 ATS (-31.0 Units) in March games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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NEBRASKA (19 - 16) at TCU (21 - 13) - 3/24/2019, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEBRASKA is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) in road games this season.
NEBRASKA is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) in road lined games this season.
NEBRASKA is 24-42 ATS (-22.2 Units) in road games in March games since 1997.
NEBRASKA is 17-33 ATS (-19.3 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
NEBRASKA is 108-145 ATS (-51.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
NEBRASKA is 64-90 ATS (-35.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
NEBRASKA is 38-25 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NEBRASKA is 38-25 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
NEBRASKA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
NEBRASKA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
TCU is 118-159 ATS (-56.9 Units) in all home games since 1997.
TCU is 118-159 ATS (-56.9 Units) in home lined games since 1997.
TCU is 192-242 ATS (-74.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
TCU is 118-157 ATS (-54.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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