brody25@outlook.com 
We’re only one away from the start of the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. The games on the first day, Friday, March 19th, are from the South and Mid-West regions of the bracket. For this article, I will be strictly covering games that are from the South region on Friday. Sit back, relax and enjoy the March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #10 VIRGINIA TECH VS #7 FLORIDA
Virginia Tech (15-6; 9-4 ACC) matches up against Florida (14-9; 9-7 SEC) on Friday, March 19th at 12:15 pm on CBS
The Hokies started off this season hot, winning 8 out of 9 to start the season, including a win over #3 Villanova. They still put together a solid season overall but have been struggling as of late, going 2-3 in their last 5 games played.
Virginia Tech is lead by their tough 6’9 junior, Keve Aluma, who averages 15.6 PPG and 8 REB/G. He’s a big man that can score from anywhere on the court, shooting 35% from beyond the arc, and rebound with the best of them. Another piece that is pivotal in the success of VT, is another junior forward, Justyn Mutts. The 6’7 forward drops in 10 PPG and grabs 6.5 REB/G. Mutts can also shoot it from deep at a 34% clip, and is primed to pop off at any time, as he scored 24 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
Florida has had an up and down season, but if they proved one thing, it’s that they can bang with the best of them. The Gators took down #6 Tennessee and #11 West Virginia this season, proving that they can take down any team in the country when they’re at their best. They are also, 2-3 in their last 5, but records can be deceiving at times.
The Gators have a solid starting 5, 4 of which all average above 10 PPG. They look to mainly run their offense through their go-to guy, sophomore guard, Tre Mann. The Gainesville native is having a season that is nothing short of spectacular, averaging 16 PPG, along with 5.7 REB/G and 3.4 AST. Mann can also spray it from deep, shooting 40% from 3. Florida also has a weapon they look used to their advantage, via Noah Locke, who shoots 40% from deep as well, dropping in 54 3’s this season.
This classic ACC-SEC matchup will be a fun one to watch. Virginia Tech keeps the pressure on, as they are ranked 54th in the nation on the defensive end. The Hokies take halt scoring very well, as they only allow 65.5 PPG. As Virginia Tech mainly focuses on limiting their opponents, they still maintain a decent offense, pouring in 72.1 PPG.
Florida is pretty average statistically, as they are ranked in the middle of both offense and defense, scoring 74 PPG and allowing 70 PPG. Although the numbers don’t jump off the page, the one thing the Gators do very well is contest shots and block them. The Gators rank #4 in the nation in terms of blocked shots. If there is one thing they know how to do, it’s stuffing the paint and using their length to their ability.
As this will be a close battle between the #7 and #10 seeds, only one team will come out victorious. VT will have to be spot on from the perimeter as Florida has tough interior play. If they can shoot it well, that can open up more opportunities to get their big men, Aluma, and Mutts going. Florida should also look to their shooters to get going early, as Mann and Locke are microwaves and are hard to stop when they heat up. Staying true to their interior defense by contesting and blocking shots will help them get the stops they need to advance to the next round. This is one of the most exciting games of the day and I personally can’t wait to watch it!
Betting Odds:
Virginia Tech EV
Florida EV
O/U 135
Betting Trends:
Virginia Tech (11-10 ATS)
*VT is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up loss
*VT is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Friday games
*VT Over is 6-1-1 in the last 8 neutral site games
Florida (10-13 ATS)
*FLA is 0-4 ATS in the last 4 games overall
*FLA is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record
*FLA Over is 4-0 in the last 5 Friday games
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #14 COLGATE VS #3 ARKANSAS
Colgate (14-1; 11-1 Patriot) go up against the Razorbacks of Arkansas (22-6; 13-4 SEC) on Friday, March 19th at 12:45 pm on truTV
The Raiders hold the best record in their conference and are also Patriot League champions. Colgate is on one of the longest win-streaks in this tournament, winning their last 13 games, all in very convincing fashion. They dominated their conference with almost no effort, and it’s safe to say they deserve to be here
Colgate runs their offense through their do it all senior guard, Jordan Burns. He averages 17 PPG, along with 4.4 REB/G and 5.4AST. Burns is truly the heart and soul of this Raiders team. They also have great role players to back him up. Jack Ferguson, Nelly Cummings, and Tucker Richardson all average over 12 PPG, and are pivotal in helping this offense reach its full potential.
The Razorbacks hold the 2nd best record in their conference and are currently ranked #10 on the AP Top 25 Poll. They have been a powerhouse all season. They come into this game going 9-1 in their last 10, losing their last game in the second round of the SEC tournament. During this run, Arkansas routed the likes of #10 Missouri and #6 Alabama. It’s safe to say that the Razorbacks are geared to take down any team in the country at this point.
Arkansas gravitates its offense around potential NBA lottery pick, freshman guard, Moses Moody. This kid has real talent and can get buckets at any time he pleases, as he scores 17.5 PPG and shoots 38% from 3pt range. He’s a long guard, standing at 6’6, which allows him to score over smaller defenders and create mismatches on the floor. We can’t forget about Moody’s support system, fellow teammates, JD Notae and Justin Smith, who contribute 13 PPG a piece.
This matchup will be a fan-favorite and here’s why. Colgate is ranked #2 in all of D1 in scoring, dropping an insane 86 PPG. They make half of the shots they take, shooting 50% from the field as a team, and pass the ball extremely well, averaging 17.7 AST, which is 7th best in the nation. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, they are also ranked Top 10 in turnovers, showing they take care of the ball exceptionally well also.
As Colgate’s numbers are off the charts, Arkansas is not far behind. The Razorbacks rank 8th in all of D1 in scoring, pouring in 82.4 PPG, and converting on 45.5% of their field goals. Although they rank mediocre on defense, they are a very good rebounding team, ranking in the Top 10, as well as having the honor of being Top 10 in blocks per game.
This truly might be the highest scoring, and most fun game of the whole tournament, I mean seriously, who doesn’t love to watch these kinds of games. Expect this to be a good old-fashioned shoot-out. The winner of this game is quite simply, who can display their offensive prowess more effectively. Colgate shoots the ball very efficiently and should look to get easy looks by swinging the ball around, to keep Arkansas long defenders spread out. Arkansas should look to get Moody as many touches as possible, as he can put up huge numbers when he gets going, as he has done all season against top teams in the nation. This might be my favorite game of the tournament and I suggest everyone tune in!
Betting Odds:
Arkansas -8.5
Colgate +8.5
O/U 161
Betting Trends:
Arkansas (17-9-1 ATS)
*ARK is 6-1 ATS in last 7 games vs a team with a winning record
*ARK is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 following an ATS loss
*ARK Under is 5-0 in the last 5 games vs a team with a winning % above.600
Colgate (10-5 ATS)
*COLG is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 games overall
*COLG is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 games following a straight-up win
*COLG Over is 5-1 in last 6 games following an ATS win
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #11 UTAH STATE VS #6 TEXAS TECH
Utah State (20-8; 15-4 MWC) is matched up against Texas Tech (17-10; 9-8 BIG 12) on Friday, March 19th at 1:45 pm on TNT
The Aggies come into this contest off a loss to San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference tournament finals. Before that, Utah St. was on a hot streak of 6 wins in a row. Although they lost their last game against SDSU, the Aggies still hold two wins over the #16 Aztecs, so they are no slouch against good competition.
Utah St. relies on their big man, Neemias Queta, who stands at 7 feet tall. Queta is an old-fashioned big man who is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He averages a double-double on the season, putting up 15 PPG and 10 REB/G. He is also a great defender, as he averages 3.2 BLK/G. Queta is a serious threat on both sides of the ball and the Aggies will look to take advantage of his size and strength to outmuscle TTU.
The Red Raiders of Texas Tech are currently ranked #21 in the AP Top 25, so off the bat, you know that they are coming into this matchup battle-tested and ready to go. Texas Tech lost their last two games, but it was against two top 10 teams in the country, Texas and Baylor. The Big 12 has been an unbelievable conference this season and the Raiders have stuck around and proved they can compete with the best of them, owning wins over #9 ranked, at the time, Oklahoma, and #14 Texas.
Texas Tech’s leading scorer is Georgetown transfer, junior guard, Mac McClung. Mac scores 15.7 PPG, which is pretty impressive considering the teams he faces in the Big 12. As he is their main scorer, it would be criminal not to mention how efficient of a scorer Kyler Edwards is. He is TTU’s sharpshooter, converting on an astounding 41.5% of his 3pt shots, raining in 51 3’s on the season. Another player to keep eyes on is their scrappy big man, who only stands at 6’7, Marcus Santos-Silva. He averages a solid 8.5 PPG and 6.5 REB/G.
Both of these teams are well-coached and disciplined on both sides of the ball. Utah State has a Top 15 defense in the country, giving up a mere 62.3 PPG. The Aggies are also Top 15 in rebounds and blocks per game. Utah St. has a very physical, in-your-mouth style of defense on the perimeter, which leads teams to have to take it inside and are met at the rim by their 7’0 center.
The Red Raiders also pride themselves on phenomenal defense, ranking 27th in the country in allowed points per game, which is only 63.4 PPG. They have a similar tough defensive scheme as Utah State. The one area that Texas Tech excels in that isn’t defense, is being able to take care of the ball, as they only turn the ball over 11 times per game, which is ranked among the Top 25.
This contest is going to be very different, as many of the games that are played before this, as this will be a coach vs coach defensive matchup. Both teams have an average offense and an iron wall of defense. Utah State should look to take advantage of their big man, as he is 5 inches taller than TTU’s Santos-Silva. It’s important that they win the battle inside on both sides of the ball. Texas Tech will have to limit Queta, as he is the Aggies leading scorer and rebounder. If they can restrict him from getting easy looks and box him out, their chances of victory are much higher.
Betting Odds:
Texas Tech -4
Utah State +4
O/U 131.5
Betting Trends:
Texas Tech (10-17 ATS)
*TTU is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 neutral site games as a favorite
*TTU is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss
*TTU Under is 4-0 in the last 4 games as a favorite
Utah State (15-11 ATS)
*USU is 5-1 ATS in last 6 neutral site games
*USU is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA tourney games
*USU Under is 5-0 in last 5 games overall
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #15 ORAL ROBERTS VS #2 OHIO STATE
Oral Roberts (16-10; 10-5 SUMMIT) gets matchup up against Ohio State (21-9; 12-8 Big 10) on Friday, March 19th at 3:00 pm on CBS
Oral Roberts is riding into this game on a smooth 5-game win-streak. ORU won the Summit League Tournament as a #4 seed, so they’re no stranger to upsets. Although both of these games were losses, the Golden Eagles went toe to toe with Wichita State, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas, losing by single digits in each contest. Oral Roberts showed their toughness early on in the season and proved that they can hang with the big guys
ORU has a secret weapon that many people do not know about. He goes by the name of Max Abmas. The 6’1 sophomore is the NCAA D1 basketball leader in points per game, scoring a commanding 24.2 PPG. It’s always great to have the best scorer in the country on your team. Many coaches may focus on stopping Abmas, but that’s where his partner in crime, Kevin Obanor comes into play. Obanor is an elite scorer himself, adding 18.2 PPG and 9.5 REB/G. This is a DEADLY duo that should concern their opponents at all times.
The Buckeyes have been one of the best teams in the BIG 10 this year. They went on a few key runs that propelled them to their current position. They went on a 10-1 run in the middle of the season, taking down #15 Rutgers, #14 Illinois, #10 Wisconsin, and #8 Iowa. This run proved that OSU is a top program in the BIG 10 and they can bang with the top teams any day. Ohio State is coming off of a great BIG 10 Tournament run, where they downed #20 Purdue, and #4 Michigan.
OSU gets a chunk of their offense from their dynamic duo, Duane Washington Jr. and E.J. Liddell, who both add 16 PPG to the box score. Both of these guys can shoot the ball from deep at a nice clip, 38% for Washington Jr. and 34% for Liddell. The Buckeyes also get great contribution from their other role players, like Justice Sueing and CJ Walker, who post around 10 PPG each.
If you were looking for another western-style shootout, well you’re in luck! Oral Roberts has the 10th best offense in the country, dropping in 81.8 PPG. A good contributor to their scoring efficiency is their ability to get to the line and make their shots, as they are the #1 in FG% in the nation at 82.5%.
Ohio State is not far behind in terms of offense. The Buckeyes rank in the top 50 offenses and score 77.3 PPG. Just like ORU, Ohio State is also very efficient from the charity stripe, shooting a clean 76.3%. One area where OSU can play to their strength is in their ability to hold on to the ball. They are top 10 in turnovers per game, only giving the ball up 10.4 times per game.
If these offensive stats from both teams didn’t convince you that this is going to be a barn burner, then maybe these defensive stats can. Oral Roberts ranks 293rd in PPG allowed, at 75.8, and Ohio State ranks 201st, letting up 71 PPG.
Oral Roberts should look to get Abmas locked in early so he can heat up and allow for his teammates to get good looks, as the defense will be focused on putting out his fire. A good gameplan is for them to get to the line as many times as possible since they’re the best free-throw shooting team in the nation.
Ohio State needs to keep Abmas and Obanor at bay early, not letting them catch heat over the course of the game. If they can keep the top two opposing scorers honest, they will have a great chance to win this game. Washington and Liddell will get their buckets, so OSU should look to get them good looks and take care of business on the defensive end.
Betting Odds:
Oral Roberts +16
Ohio State -16
O/U 157
Betting Trends:
Oral Roberts (14-9 ATS)
*ORU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall
*ORU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight-up win
*ORU Over is 6-1 in the last 7 neutral site games as an underdog
Ohio State (17-12-1 ATS)
*OSU is 0-6 ATS in their lsat 6 NCAA Tourney games as favorites
*OSU is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss
*OSU is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #16 HARTFORD VS #1 BAYLOR
Hartford (15-8; 8-6 AEC) match up against BIG 12 powerhouse Baylor (22-2; 13-1 BIG 12). This game will take place on March 19th at 3:30 on truTV
Hartford joins the NCAA Tournament as the reigning champions of the American East Conference. The Hawks are on a 5-game win-streak and feel good coming into this contest.
The Hawks’ best player entering this game is senior guard, Austin Williams. He drops 13.7 PPG and helps out on the boards averaging 6.2 REB/G, which is also the most on his team. Williams gets a ton of help on offense from his role players, 4 of which average more than 10 PPG.
Baylor is well, Baylor. They have been amongst the best teams in the nation all season and they enter this contest ranked #3 on the AP Top 25. Baylor has only 2 losses on the season, coming from Kansas and Oklahoma State, who are both in the NCAA Tournament as well. I can go all day with the list of quality teams that Baylor has beaten, but to name a few, #5 Illinois, #9 Kansas, and #15 Texas Tech. It’s no question that Baylor is among the favorites to win it all
The Bears are led by a ferocious trio, Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, and Davion Mitchell. These three studs average a combined 47 PPG. Mitchell and Butler are both NBA Draft prospects for next season and that comes as no surprise. This is easily the most dangerous group of scorers in the nation and it’s not close.
The Hawks pride themselves heavily on the defensive end, as they rank among the top 25 defenses in the country. Hartford plays tough defense and only gives up 63.3 PPG to their opposition. Unfortunately, their offense is not up to par, in fact, it is ranked on the opposite side of the spectrum, sitting at 293rd in the country.
Baylor is considered to have one of the best offenses in the league, ranking 3rd in the country with 84.4 PPG. The scoring trio contributes more than half of these points. Not only are they a top-scoring team, but they excel on the defensive end as well, only letting up 66.4 PPG.
This game isn’t really going to be much, as Baylor will 99.9% win in a blowout. Baylor will have to do what they have been all season, getting good looks from all around the court by sharing the rock. For Hartford to really stand any chance at winning this game, they will have to play complete lockdown defense and try and get open shots by playing sound basketball all game. All though it is very unlikely they even stand a chance, never say never!
Betting Odds:
Hartford +26
Baylor -26
O/U 140.5
Betting Trends:
Hartford (14-8 ATS)
*HART is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall
*HART is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win
*HART is 10-2 in their last 12 games against a team with winning % above .600
Baylor (15-9 ATS)
*BAY Over is 7-0 in last 7 games following a loss
*BAY Over is 11-1 in last 12 games overall
*BAY Over is 7-1 in last 8 neutral site games
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #9 WISCONSIN VS #8 NORTH CAROLINA
Wisconsin (17-12; 10-10 BIG 10) matchup against the Tar Heels of North Carolina (18-10; 10-6 ACC) on Friday, March 19th at 7:10 pm on CBS
The Wisconsin Badgers don’t look like their 2015 NCAA Tournament selves, as it’s not easy to be able to repeat success like that. Wisconsin has been struggling lately, losing 4 of their last 5 games. It definitely is not easy playing BIG 10 teams all season, but in general, the Badgers are a mere 3-9 against Top 25 competition. Although the record isn’t there to show, Wisconsin is still Wisconsin. They will be prepared to win by any means necessary.
The Badgers are a very experienced team, ranking 20th in most experienced. If this team has anything, it’s chemistry. They are lead by senior guard, D’Mitrik Trice. Wisconsin runs their offense through their All Big-Ten 3rd Team selection, as he averages 13.7 PPG and 4 AST. Trice, along with 3 other teammates, average a 3pt % over 37%, so they are more than capable of shooting the ball from deep with efficiency.
North Carolina was looking like a team that was going to have an upsetting season, like their fellow powerhouses, Duke and Kentucky. UNC was a meager 5-4 in their first 9 games, which isn’t the success that the Tar Heels are used to seeing. Fortunately, Roy Williams got a hold of his group and they finished the season strong, going 13-6 the rest of the season. UNC has been solid in the ACC this season, and they hold a solid win over currently ranked #14 Florida State, and also lost close contests with #8 Iowa, and #9 Texas.
The Tar Heels’ sophomore big man, Armando Bacot, is arguably their best player. He averages a solid 12 PPG and 8 REB/G for UNC. As the stats don’t pop off the screen, Bacott has intangibles that make him a great player, like leadership and a high motor. Bacott gets a ton of help from his team, as 5 other players average more than 8 PPG. The Tar Heels also possess one of the best 3pt shooters in the nation, Kerwin Walker, who rains in 3s at a 41.5% clip.
This matchup is an interesting one because it is a battle of talent vs experience. UNC has 4 freshmen that get significant playing time, as the Badgers have all seniors in their starting 5.
Wisconsin is a well-coached, very experienced team, which is why they possess a top 40 defense in the country, allowing only 64.3 PPG. The badgers have an elite assist to turnover ratio and are the BEST team in the nation at holding onto the ball, turning the ball over only 8.9 times per game on average. This team does the little things right that make a big difference. The Badgers will have to play to their strengths by doing what they have been all season, playing very good team defense, and limiting their turnovers.
The Tar Heels are very good at two things, offense, and rebounding. UNC drops in an impressive 75.7 PPG, where they get the whole team involved, rather than being centered around one player. North Carolina cleans the glass like no other, as they are ranked 3rd in the nation in rebounding, averaging 46.2 REB/G, which is 10 more than Wisconsin. The Tar Heels can run away with this one if they stay true to their offense, and crash the glass with all their energy, as they have been all season.
Betting Odds:
Wisconsin +1.5
North Carolina -1.5
O/U 137.5
Betting Trends:
Wisconsin (12-15-2 ATS)
*WISC is 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games
*WISC is 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*WISC Under is 11-1 in the last 12 neutral site games as a underdog
North Carolina (13-13-2 ATS)
*UNC is 3-0-1 in the last 4 games overall
*UNC is 4-0 ATS in last 4 following a straight-up loss
*UNC Over is 6-1 in the last 7 games as a favorite
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #13 NORTH TEXAS VS #4 PURDUE
North Texas (17-9; 9-5 CUSA) take on Purdue (18-9; 13-6 BIG 10) on Friday, March 19th at 7:25 pm on TNT
North Texas struggled late in the season, losing their last 3 regular-season games. However, the Mean Green completely turned it around in the postseason, winning 4 games in a row, leading them to a Conference USA title. North Texas hasn’t played many ranked opponents but kept it interesting against Arkansas, WVU, and Loyola Chicago.
North Texas looks to senior guard, Javion Hamlet, to produce on the offensive end. Hamlet is a solid player that does a little bit of everything, averaging 15 PPG, 4.5 AST, and 3.3 REB/G. Three other players average 10 PPG a piece for the Mean Green, James Reese, Thomas Bell, and Zachary Simmons. These 4 are the backbone of this squad offensively.
Purdue enters this contest coming off a BIG 10 tournament loss but winning 5 straight before that. The Boilermakers have been solid in the BIG 10, finishing 4th in the conference and grabbing wins over Ohio State twice, and Wisconsin once.
Purdue relies on junior forward, Trevion Williams, to help the team succeed. The 6’10 big man averages 15.6 PPG, while also grabbing 9 REB/G. Williams is their leading scorer, but Purdue wouldn’t be where they are without their supporting cast, 5 of them averaging more than 8 PPG. Outside of their big man scoring, Purdue also has fellow junior guard, Sasha Stefanovic, who excels from the perimeter, shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
Defense, Defense, Defense, that is the name of this game. North Texas is 10th in the nation in terms of opponent PPG, allowing a light 61.2 PPG. This is very impressive as they previously held great competition to low scores, including West Virginia to 62 and Loyola Chicago to 57. Having a defense of this caliber is vital if they want to make a run in this tournament. North Texas should look to stick to their defensive schemes and limit the Boilermakers’ options, focusing on keeping Williams at bay.
Purdue is no slouch on defense either, as they gave up 4th fewest points in the BIG 10, which is known to be a strong defensive conference. The Boilermakers allow 66.3 PPG. Purdue may not have the most eye-catching numbers, but everyone that watches them play knows just how dangerous they can be. Purdue is going to have to match NOTEX’s defensive pressure, so they can try to implement their offense without giving up too many buckets in the process.
Betting Odds:
North Texas +7.5
Purdue -7.5
O/U 126.5
Betting Trends:
North Texas (15-9-1 ATS)
*UNT is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 games overall
*UNT is 6-0-1 ATS in the last 7 games following a straight-up win
*UNT Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 neutral site games as an underdog
Purdue (14-11-2 ATS)
*PUR is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 games as a favorite
*PUR is 5-1 in the last 6 games overall
*PUR Over is 10-2 in last 12 NCAA Tourney games
March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews #12 WINTHROP VS #5 VILLANOVA
The Winthrop Eagles (23-1; 17-1 Big South) are matched up against Villanova (16-6; 11-4 Big East) on Friday, March 18th at 9:57 pm on TNT
The Eagles are seen as a true dark horse in this tournament, as they only have one loss on the season, which they only fell by 2 points. Winthrop has cleaned out its conference back and forth, their last win coming in the Big South Championship game, where they won by 27 points. This group does not play around, and should definitely not be taken lightly.
The Eagles have a Swiss army knife on their squad, and his name is Chandler Vaudrin. The senior guard is a tall, long, slick player that can do a little bit of everything, averaging 12 PPG, 7 REB/G, and 7 AST. If that wasn’t enough, Vaudrin also flexes his range, shooting 38% from beyond the arc. However, Winthrop isn’t just a one-man show, as 9 players in total average at least 5 PPG.
Villanova is coming off a disappointing upset in the first round of the Big East Tournament, as they fell to the eventual underdog champion, Georgetown. If there was any time for them to disappoint, the conference tournament is a good place to get that out. Now they can focus on making a run in the real championship tournament. Nova has big wins over powerhouses like Creighton, Texas, and Arizona State, so you know they are coming into the NCAA Tournament ready to rock.
Nova is lead by All Big-East 1st team selection, Jeremiah Robinson-Earle. The sophomore big man is averaging a highly impressive, 15.7 PPG and 8.3 REB/G. Earl is helped by Justin Moore and Jermaine Samuels, who average 12 PPG each, respectively. Unfortunately, Nova will be without their star point guard, Collin Gillespie, who normally runs the show. The others will have to pick up the slack in Gillespie’s absence, as there 14 PPG left in limbo.
Winthrop is efficient on both sides of the rock, as they rank 30th in the nation at 79.5 PPG, and only allow 66.8 PPG. The Eagles are also top-notch at crashing the glass, ranking 21st in rebounds. As they do many things very well, Winthrop has a big problem with holding on to the ball, averaging 14 turnovers per game, which s among some of the highest numbers in the country. If Winthrop wants to complete this upset, they will have to be laser-focused and take care of the ball to the best of their ability, because they do everything else at a high level.
Villanova has a potent offense, ranking in the top 75 in D1. As said before, this number will not be as accurate because of Gillespie’s injury. However, they can still play very solid defense, only allowing a solid 67 PPG. Nova excels where Winthrop fails. The Wildcats rank 2nd in fewest turnovers per game, averaging a whole 5 fewer turnovers per game. Without one of their best players, Nova needs to feed Robinson-Earl to get him going early, eventually allowing the team to get easier shots. Forcing turnovers, while limiting theirs is a big key for Nova if they want to advance in the tournament.
Betting Odds:
Winthrop +6.5
Villanova -6.5
O/U 143
Betting Trends:
Winthrop (13-11 ATS)
*WIN is 3-0 ATS in the last 3 games overall
*WIN Under is 5-0-1 in the last 6 games overall
*WIN Under is 6-0 in last 6 NCAA Tourney games
Villanova (11-10-1 ATS)
*NOVA is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 NCAA Tourney games as a favorite
*NOVA is 13-3 ATS in the last 16 NCAA Tourney games
*NOVA over is 8-2 in last 10 neutral site games
Thank you for reading my game previews for March Madness: Round of 64 – South Region Game Previews! The South region has some awesome matchups, as you can tell, and they will be super fun to watch. My Personal favorite games I suggest you watch out for is Winthrop vs Nova, and Wisconsin vs UNC. Stay tuned for more March Madness Previews!
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