March Madness

The second day of March Madness has come, as we got to watch the first 16 games play out yesterday. The East region has great matchups all the way through, coming with a few potential upsets and of course our powerhouse teams. Enjoy the March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews!

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #5 COLORADO VS # 12 GEORGETOWN

Colorado (22-8; 14-6 PAC-12) takes on Georgetown (13-12; 7-9 Big East) Saturday, March 20th at 12:15 pm on CBS

Colorado comes off a loss from Oregon State in the PAC-12 finals, where they took a tough loss by 2 points. The Buffaloes were on a solid run of 6 straight wins before that game. Colorado finished 3rd in the PAC-12 this year and is currently ranked #22 in the AP Top 25. They have solid conference wins over USC, UCLA, and Oregon.

McKinley Wright IV is their main man. Wright does it all at 6’0, averaging 15.5 PPG, 5.6 AST, and 4.3 REB/G. Wright rolls with two more solid scorers on his squad, Jeremiah Horne, who averages 11 PPG, and Evan Battey, who drops in 10 PPG. These 3 guys contribute the most to Colorado’s success this season.

The Hoyas of Georgetown had to really earn their spot in this tournament, and they did deservingly so. Although their record is only 13-12, they have won their last 4 games, all in the Big East tournament. They took down Villanova and Creighton, who are both ranked in the AP Top 25 right now. Georgetown is making a statement, taking out big names in the process. Watch out for the Hoyas for a potential Cinderella story.

Georgetown has 3 very good scorers that all average over 12 PPG. At the top of the list is Jahvon Blair, who adds 16 PPG, 3.7 AST, and 3.8 REB/G to the box score, so he can do a little bit of everything. Jamorko Pickett is a 12 PPG scorer who is a very long 6’9 guard, that also grabs 7.5 REB/G. 6’11 center, Qudus Wahab also scores 12 PPG and grabs 8 REB/G in the process. This trio brings Georgetown the bulk of its production.

Colorado has a top-tier defense, ranking in the top 25 and only letting up 63.3 PPG. They are middle of the pack on offense, but they are good at something that many teams aren’t free throws. They are the SECOND best team in the nation from the charity stripe, shooting a super-efficient 82.2%. Colorado does the little things right. They are coached well, as being proficient in defense and free throws are every coach’s dream. I expect them to pound the ball inside and try to draw fouls, to play to their strong suit.

G-Town doesn’t have statistics on its side, but that makes them all the more dangerous. They might not be taken seriously by their opponents and that plays to their advantage. They are a tough, gritty team that wins by crashing the glass, ranking 8th in all of D1 in REB/G, and just playing their heart out. Expect them to crowd the paint and capitalize off offensive rebounds.

Betting Odds:

Colorado -6.5 (17-13 ATS)
-250 ML

Georgetown +6.5 (16-9 ATS)
+210 ML

O/U 138.5

Betting Trends:

*COLO is 0-4 ATS in last 4 NCAA tournament games
*COLO is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games
*COLO Over is 7-2 in the last 9 neutral site games

*GTWN is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall
*GTWN is 4-0 in their last 4 games as underdogs
*GTWN Under is 3-1 in their last 4 games overall

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #4 FLORIDA STATE VS #13 UNC GREENSBORO

Florida State (16-6; 11-4 ACC) matches up against UNC Greensboro (21-8; 13-5 Southern) on Saturday, March 20th at 12:45 pm on truTV

Florida State had been a top ACC team all season, finishing 2nd in the conference. They come into this contest losing the ACC Championship game against Georgia Tech, where they lost by 5. The Seminoles took down some very good teams this season, including Florida, Louisville, and North Carolina.

The Seminoles’ leading scorer is veteran senior guard, M.J. Walker, who pours in 13 PPG. Walker gets a lot of his points from beyond the arc, as he shoots a very efficient 44% from 3. Raiquan Gray is also a big contributor. Gray adds 12 PPG and 6.5 REB/G to the stat sheet. The Seminoles have a weapon that comes off the bench. The potential NBA lottery pick, 6’9 freshman guard, Scottie Barnes brings phenomenal production to Florida State. As he mainly comes off the bench, Barnes still manages to average 11 PPG, 4.2 AST, and 4.3 REB/G.

UNCG comes into this contest as Southern Conference champions, winning the tournament and finishing with the best record in the conference. It’s safe to say they been dominating their conference all season. The Spartans have won 6 of their last 7, as they look to take that momentum to make a run in this tournament.

The Spartans can attribute most of their success to senior guard, Isaiah Miller. He stands only 6’0 tall, but manages to fill the stat sheet, averaging 19 PPG, 4 AST, and a surprising 7 REB/G. He does everything for this UNCG team, leading in all 3 categories. The rest of the work is distributed evenly throughout the squad, as 6 other players average more than 6 PPG.

Florida State has one of the most potent offenses in the league, and they shoot it very efficiently. They have the 33rd best offense in the league, averaging 79 PPG, while also converting on, a top 40 ranked, 47.5% of their FG. FSU will look to use their trio of fluent scorers to their advantage, specifically they should look to get Barnes hot coming off the bench.

UNGC has an above-average defense, as they rank top 90, allowing 67.4 PPG. One thing that UNCG does very well is rebound and take care of the ball, as they rank in the top 25 in each category, respectively. The Spartans’ first option is to get Miller going early to open up the rest of the offense to create easier shots. If they can’t the role players will have to step up until Miller gets in his groove. They are going to have to match FSU’s scorers if they want to advance to the round of 32.

Betting Odds:

Florida State -10.5 (11-9-2 ATS)
ML -650

UNC Greensboro +10.5 (17-12 ATS)
ML+475

O/U 145

Betting Trends:

*FSU is 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games
*FSU is 0-2-2 ATS in their last 4 games vs a team with a winning record
*FSU Over is 5-1 in the last 6 games following an ATS loss

*UNCG is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 games overall
*UNCG is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 games vs a team with a winning record
*UNCG Over is 5-1 in the last 6 games as an underdog

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #8 LSU VS #9 ST BONAVENTURE

LSU (18-9; 11-6 SEC) takes on St. Bonnies (16-4; 11-4 A10) on Saturday, March 20th, at 1:45 pm on TNT

The Tigers of LSU come into this game with a good resume as of late. They lost to Alabama by 1 in the SEC Championship, after having a few opportunities to win the game. Looking past that, they came into the SEC Championship on a 4 game win-streak, knocking off #10 Arkansas in the process. LSU is the real deal this season, finishing 3rd in a tough SEC conference.

LSU has one of the best players in the nation, in freshman star Cameron Thomas. The 6’4 guard is a 2021 NBA Draft prospect, and it’s for a reason. Thomas averages a 4th best in all of D1, 22.6 PPG. Thomas isn’t the only weapon they have, as his teammates Trendon Watford, and Javonte Smart both rattle in 16 PPG a piece. This is one of the best scoring trios in the country, averaging a combined total of 54 PPG!

St Bonnies are on a tear coming into this contest. The Bonnies have won 6 out of their last 7 games, including an A-10 Championship. St Bonnies have had their grip on the A-10 All season, finishing with the best record in their conference as well.

The Bonnies rely heavily on their starting 5, as they all average over 10 PPG, and their highest scorer on the bench averages only 5 PPG. The leader of the pack is junior guard Kyle Lofton, who scores a team-high 14.5 PPG and also facilitates the offense, adding 5.5 AST. His teammates Jaren Holmes and Dominick Welch are both snipers, both shooting 40% from 3.

LSU, quite simply put, has one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking 8th in total PPG, scoring 82 points per contest. Their deadly trio is unlike something we’ve seen before, and NBA prospect, Cam Thomas is just too elite of a scorer to stop consistently. On the flip side, LSU is an all-offense team, as their defense is among the worst in D1. They’ll have to step up a little bit on defense and get the trio some easy shots to see the ball go in the net.

St Bonnies is a complete 180 from LSU, having a top 5 defense in the country. They stay true to their defensive schemes and that is what got them to the position they’re in. They only score 70 PPG, but they have capable scorers that can boost that average at any time. Staying disciplined on defense and trying to limit Thomas’ numbers is a way that the Bonnies can advance in this tournament, having all the tools to make a deep run.

Betting Odds:

LSU -1.5 (13-13-1 ATS)
-120 ML

St Bonaventure +1.5 (14-5-1 ATS)
+100 ML

O/U144

Betting Trends:

*LSU is 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 games overall
*LSU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs a team with a winning record
*LSU Over is 6-1 in their last 7 NCAA Tourney games

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #1 MICHIGAN VS #16 TEXAS SOUTHERN

Michigan (20-4; 14-3 BIG 10) meets up against Texas Southern (17-8; 10-3 SWAC) on Saturday, March 20th, at 3:00 pm on CBS

The Wolverines are the best team in one of the best conferences, the BIG 10. They have been at the top of the standings all season. They have huge wins over amazing conference talent, taking down Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa, and Maryland. Michigan is seen as one of the most favored teams to win it all, by some experts.

Michigan is big man heavy, as their top 3 scorers are all big men. The leader of the pack is a HUGE freshman, 7’1 center, Hunter Dickinson. He leads the team in points and rebounds at 14 PPG and 7.6 REB/G. His fellow big men, Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers, both average 13 PPG and 6 REB/G a piece. This group of Wolverines is absolute deadeyes from deep, as 6 players on the team shoot AT LEAST 38% from 3.

Texas Southern is coming off a First Four win against Mt. St. Mary’s on Thursday night. The star of the game was junior forward, John Walker III, who dropped a game-high 19 PTS, also grabbing down 9 REB. Walker was the only thing TXSO really had going that game, as they shot an abysmal 38% as a team. They’re going to have to pick it up if they want to have a shot of beating Michigan

Texas Southern will need to use their best scorers, Walker and Weathers, to score as much as possible. The rest of the team will have to do their role and space the floor to let their stars go to work, also knocking down open shots themselves. The one thing that TXSO does very well is rebound, ranking top 5 in the nation. If they can turn some of those into offensive rebounds and create a lot of second chances, it can help TXSO gain some momentum in the game

Michigan doesn’t need to do anything different. They’ve been here time and time again, and they have faced the best competition in the country all year. It is apparent that any team can beat any team, hence the madness in March Madness, but this won’t be one of those games. Michigan is just flat-out too good to lose this game.

Betting Odds:

Michigan -25.5 (17-7 ATS)
-5000 ML

Texas Southern +25.5 (13-10-1)
+1600 ML

Betting Trends:

*MICH is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall
*MICH Under is 6-1 in their last 7 games overall
*MICH Under is 5-1 in their last 6 NCAA Tourney games

*TXSO is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall
*TXSO is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*TXSO is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #2 ALABAMA VS #15 IONA

Alabama (24-6; 16-2 SEC) takes on Iona (12-5; 6-3 MAAC) on Saturday, March 20th, at 4 pm on TBS

Alabama has had a monster season so far this year. They finished 1st in the tough SEC and won an SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide are on a 6 game win-steak entering this contest, taking out LSU and Tennessee in the process. Bama is primed to make a big run this year if all goes well

Alabama has a very good roster of players. They have the reigning SEC Player of The Year, in senior guard, Herbert Jones. He is an absolute lock-down defender, averaging 2 STL and 1 BLK a game, also solid on the offensive end with 11 PPG and 6.5 REB. Bama has a killer coming off the bench, Nova transfer Jahvon Quinerly. The sophomore guard has handles like a baby Kyrie Irving and can shoot like him too, hitting 44% of his 3s

Iona is also on a 6-game win-streak coming into this matchup as well. Their last win came in the MAAC Championship game, a 9 point win over Fairfield. The Gaels have been at the top of the standings all season in the MAAC, as they dominated their conference finishing with the 2nd best record.

The Gaels look to their senior guard Isaiah Ross for offensive efficiency. Ross is their leading scorer, dropping an impressive 18.4 PPG and converting on 39% of 3pt attempts. Ross is a gifted scorer for sure. Another big contributor for Iona is freshman big man, Nelly Junior Joseph, who scores 11.4 PPG and brings down 7.6 REB/G.

Alabama has been tearing up the SEC with their stellar offense all year, ranking 27th in the nation with 79.6 PPG. Jones, Shackelford, and Quinerly contribute a lot for this offensive to thrive at a very efficient rate. Bama doesn’t have the best defense, but they do secure the rock off of missed shots, ranking 6th in most rebounds per game at 44.6 REB/G. Playing their smooth offensive brand of basketball can get this team over Iona quite easily, and gears them well for a nice run in this tournament

Iona plays fairly good defense, only allowing 66 PPG. Their biggest problem is something that is detrimental in a win or go home game. They average 15.7 TO per game, which is among the highest in D1 basketball. If Iona wants any shot at winning this game, they have to be very careful with the ball and waste as few possessions as possible, because Alabama will get their buckets no matter what.

Betting Odds:

Alabama -16.5 (17-12-1 ATS)
-2000 ML

Iona (11-5-1 ATS)
+1125 ML

Betting Trends:

*BAMA is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall
*BAMA is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win
*BAMA Under is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall

*IONA is 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall
*IONA is 3-0-1 in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*IONA Under is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #7 UCONN VS #10 MARYLAND

Uconn (15-7; 11-6 Big East) takes on Maryland (16-13; 9-11 BIG 10) on Saturday, March 20th, at 7:10 pm on CBS

The Uconn Huskies were on a 5-game win-streak, before they ran into Creighton in the Big East Tournament, losing a close contest by only 3 points. They finished 3rd in a solid Big East conference, getting wins over Georgetown and USC, who are both in the tournament.

The Huskies are led by potential NBA lottery pick, James Bouknight. This kid can really do it all, averaging a smooth 19 PPG, along with 6 REB/G. He is a decent shooter, making 31% of his 3s, but taking his defender off the dribble and creating his own shot is his strong suit. His sidekick, RJ Cole is a very solid #2 option for this squad, as he averages 12 PPG and 4.5 AST, along with a team-high 38.5% from downtown. Cole is a really good role player that gives the Huskies some solid scoring and facilitation.

Maryland has been struggling lately, losing 3 of their last 4. Although the BIG 10 is tough, Maryland is coming off of two losses from two of the worst teams in the conference. This could be a good thing though, as they get those losses out of their system and focus on being a good basketball team for the upcoming tournament. It’s not a question if Maryland can beat good competition either, as they have taken down Wisconsin and Illinois earlier in the season.

The Terps possess a deadly duo in their backcourt. Eric Ayala is their leading scorer at 15 PPG and 4.3 REB/G. His counterpart, Aaron Wiggins averages 14 PPG and 6 REB/G. These two count for a lot of Maryland’s production. Sophomore forward Donta Scott also plays a great role, scoring 11 PPG and converting on 43.5% of his 3pt attempts

Uconn is one of the better defensive teams in the nation, allowing only 64.6 PPG. Their interior defense is elite too, as they rank 6th in blocks, averaging 5.3 BLK/G. This is a very solid defense that contests and blocks shots, as well as boxing out and rebounding The Huskies, grab 41.3 REB/G, which is ranked 55th. Imposing their defense, staying active on boards, and getting Bouknight going should be implemented into Uconn’s gameplan.

Maryland’s defense is up to par with Uconn’s giving up less than half a point more on defense. They play good sound defense but don’t force many turnovers, as they are ranked very low in steals and blocks per game. Maryland’s offense needs some work too if they want to keep up with Uconn, averaging just under 69 PPG. The one place that the Terps can capitalize on is limiting turnovers, which is something they are very good at. Making each possession count and limiting transition buckets is a good path to victory for Maryland.

Betting Odds:

Uconn -3 (16-5 ATS)
-160 ML

Maryland +3 (12-16 ATS)
+140 ML

Betting Trends:

*CONN is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games at neutral sites
*CONN is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss
*CONN Over is 7-1 in their last 8 Saturday games

*MD is 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games overall
*MD Under is 8-1 in their last 9 Saturday games
*MD Under is 4-0 in their last 4 games following an ATS loss

March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews #6 BYU VS #11 UCLA

BYU (20-6; 10-3 WCC) takes on UCLA (18-9; 13-6 PAC-12) on Saturday, March 20th, at 9:40 pm on CBS

BYU is coming into this game off a loss from the #1 team in the country, Gonzaga. Before they met the Zags in the WCC Tournament, they were on a 5 game win streak. They have been dominant in their conference, finishing right behind Gonzaga, at 2nd in the WCC.

BYU is led by the grizzled senior veteran guard, Alex Barcello. He scores a team-high 16 PPG, while also adding 4.7 REB/G and 4.5 AST to the box score. Borcello is their do it all guy that gets it done from every area of the game. He shoots an UNREAL 49% from 3, almost making half of his 3pt shots. Trevin Knell is also a knockdown shooter, dripping in 45.5% of his 3s

UCLA came off of a First Four OT victory against Michigan State on Thursday. Jamie Jaquez Jr. popped off, dropping 27 PTS and hitting 3 of 4 of his 3pt shots. Fellow guard Johnny Juzang added 23 PTS himself to secure their spot in this tournament.

BYU has a deadly offense that is filled with shooters, which is why they score a 35th best, 78.7 PPG. It’s one thing to have a potent offense, but they are also very efficient, scoring on 48.2% of their shots. BYU validates these offensive stats by flexing their 16th ranked assist numbers, averaging 16.6 AST/G. Swinging the ball around and creating good looks for their knockdown shooters is a key to victory for the Cougars.

As UCLA showed on Thursday, they have no problem scoring when they need to. They put up 85 points with no problem against Michigan State, and they are primed to be able to do it against any team, especially when Juzang and Jaquez Jr. are heating up. They should go with a similar strategy for this matchup.

Betting Odds:

BYU -4 (14-8-3 ATS)
-192 ML

UCLA +4 (13-14 ATS)
+167 ML

Betting Trends:

*BYU is 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games
*BYU is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games
*BYU Under is 5-1 in their last 6 neutral site games as a favorite

*UCLA is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*UCLA is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 Saturday games
*UCLA Over is 8-2 in their last 10 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog

#3 TEXAS VS #14 ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Texas (19-7; 11-6 BIG 12) takes on Abilene Christian (23-4; 13-2 Southland) on Saturday, March 20th, at 9:50 pm on truTV

The Longhorns are coming fresh off a BIG 12 Championship victory, knocking off Oklahoma State a high scoring instant classic. Texas has won 5 straight on their way to a BIG 12 title. The Longhorns have been taking down strong opponents all year, for example, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Kansas.

Texas has a deep roster, as 6 players average more than 9 PPG. At the head of the pack is junior guard, Andrew Jones. He produces the most on Texas, dropping 14.6 PPG and 4.6 REB/G. The Longhorns have a plethora of knock down shooters, as 4 players shoot better than 39% from 3, which is actually insane. The most efficient shooter ins Courtney Ramsey, who drops in 42% of his 3pt attempts. Greg Brown is also a very solid piece off the bech, averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 REB/G

Abilene Christian enters this matchup off a standout performance, blowing out Nicholls St. in the Southerland Conference Championship game. ACU has been slicing their conference competition all year, finishing 2nd in the conference. They are also no stranger to out-of-conference opponents, as they gave Texas Tech and Arkansas a run for their money earlier in the season.

The Wildcats actually use their team very efficiently, as nobody stands out much more than the next guy. Their leading scorer is Kolton Kohl, a senior guard. He scores 12.3 PPG and grabs 5 REB/G. ACU has some absurd shooters as well, having 6 players that shoot better than 38%. Their top shooter, Joe Pleasant, converts on an INSANE 47.5% of 3pt attempts.

Texas scores 75.2 PPG, which is certainly above average. You can thank their shooting prowess as to why they have a solid offense. The Longhorns are also solid on the glass, bringing down 41.6 REB/G. Texas needs to do better sharing the ball, only averaging 13 AST, if they want to make a run in this tournament.

Abilene Christian looks AMAZING on paper. They score 77.6 PPG, and have the 6th best defense in the nation, allowing 60.5 PPG. The reason their offense is so sound is due to their high assist numbers, having the 4th most at 18.2 AST/G. Their hands are also very active on defense with the 3rd most steals per game in D1. ACU should look to intimidate Texas with their high level defense, which can turn into easy buckets for them. Continue to share the ball and get good looks and we can see a big upset here. Very excited for this one!

Betting Odds:

Texas -8.5 (12-13-1 ATS)
-425 ML

Abilene Christian +8.5 (17-6 ATS)
+325 ML

Betting Trends:

*TEX is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall
*TEX is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*TEX is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite

*ACU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall
*ACU is 5-0 in their last 5 games following a win of 20 points or more
*ACU is Over is 8-2 in their last 10 overall

Thank you for reading my article, March Madness: Round of 64 – East Region Game Previews ! I hope you found some of this information useful (hopefully making you money). The East region is nothing short of exciting and has potential for some upsets. My favorite games from this side of the bracket is Texas vs ACU and Maryland vs Uconn. Nonethless, I hope you enjoyed!

Follow me on twitter @marcomorales_1 to stay up to date with my hot takes!

Be sure to check out Win Daily Sports for more betting content !

The Midwest region is prime for some great games and potential upsets. There are 8 games from this region that will be played on Friday, March 19th. The winner of these games will advance to the round of 32 or the Midwest quarterfinals. Whichever way you want to look at it, there are a few teams in here that can be a potential Cinderella story or have the top seed win the tournament straight up, we’ll just have to wait and see! Get ready for March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews!

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #1 ILLINOIS VS #16 DREXEL

Illinois (23-6; 16-4 BIG 10) goes up against Drexel (12-7; 4-5 Colonial) on Friday, March 19th at 1:15 pm on TBS

The Fighting Illini are currently on a 7-game win streak, which includes a BIG 10 championship win. They have been at the top of the BIG 10 all season and hold wins over some of the best programs in the country, including #2 Michigan, #7 Ohio State, and #9 Iowa. Many experts believe Illinois has one of the best chances out of any team to win it all.

Illinois has arguably the best duo in the country leading their team. Junior guard Ayo Dosunmu, who is a potential lottery pick in next years’ draft, posts a whopping, 20.7 PPG, 6.3 REB/G, and 5.3 AST. His partner in crime is 7’0 285lb UNIT of a man, Kofi Cockburn (it’s pronounced co-burn lol). Kofi puts up 17.5 PPG and grabs around 10 REB/G. These two NBA draft prospects are some of the best players in the country, and the reason Illinois is in their current position.

Drexel is on a nice little run coming into the tournament, winning 4 straight. Drexel hasn’t really seen any tough competition this season, but nonetheless, they are still Colonial Conference Champions.

Drexel’s #1 guy Camren Wynter. The junior guard puts up impressive numbers for his team, adding an average of 16.8 PPG and 5.3 AST to the box score. Wynter is backed up by 6’8 forward, James Butler, who scores 13 PPG and pulls down 9 REB/G. This duo is actually solid, but not on the level of the formidable Illini.

Illinois is home to a top 15 offense in the nation, which isn’t very surprising. Dosunmu and Cockburn make up for 38 of their impressive 81.4 PPG. The Illini are monsters on paper too, ranking top 20 in rebounds, assists, and FG%, making around 50% of their shot attempts.

Drexel may not have the best record but statistically play pretty sound basketball. They only allow 66.8 PPG and convert on 47.7% of their field goals. Although they don’t have very high offensive numbers, they don’t waste their shots and they are very efficient.

To put it short and sweet, this won’t be much of a game. Illinois has been dominant all season against top competition, there is very little chance they slip up in the round of 64, but hey, anything’s possible.

Betting Odds:

Illinois -22.5

Drexel +22.5

O/U 143.5

Betting Trends:

Illinois (18-10-1 ATS)

*ILL is 6-1 ATS is 6-1 in the last 7 games overall

*ILL is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games following a straight up win

*ILL Over is 5-1 in last 6 games as a favorite

Drexel (12-5-2 ATS)

*DREX is 7-1 ATS in last 8 Friday games

*DREX is 4-0-1 in last 5 neutral site games

*DREX Over is 5-1 in last 6 games overall

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #8 LOYOLA CHICAGO VS #9 GEORGIA TECH

Loyola Chicago (24-4; 16-2 MVC) goes up against Georgia Tech (17-8; 11-6 ACC) on Friday, March 19th at 4:00 on TBS

The Ramblers have won 6 straight coming into the NCAA tournament, winning an MVC title along the way. Loyola has dominated the MVC all season long, grabbing 2 wins against 25-4 Drake. The Ramblers are known best from their 2018 Cinderella run to the Final Four, and honestly, don’t be surprised if they do it again.

Loyola’s go-to guy is their big man, 6’9 Cameron Krutwig. He leads the team in points and rebounds, averaging 15 PPG and 6.7 REB/G. Although he is the only player on his team to average more than 10 points per game, he gets great contributions from his trio of shooters, who all shoot better than 35% from 3. Their best shooter, Keith Clemons, happens to be one of the best shooters in the country, hitting 3s at an unreal 47%.

Georgia Tech enters this matchup on an absurd run, winning their last 8 and upsetting the #1 and #2 seed on their way to an ACC Championship. Those wins are a huge morale boost and it’s good to have momentum on their side. Unfortunately, they will be without their best player, Moses Wright, who averages 17.5 PPG and 8 REB/G. This is a huge loss as he leps GT in many different ways.

Aside from Wright, GT still has a solid duo of scorers, Michael Devoe, and Jose Alvarado, who put up 15 PPG a piece. Both of them shoot very well beyond the arc, around 40%. These two will have to step up in the absence of Wright as 17 points will be up in the air for someone to cover.

Loyola Chicago has the #1 ranked defense in the NATION. They have been clamping up teams all season only letting up an absurd 55.5 PPG. That number is extremely low, and it just goes to show how good their defense really is. Although they are middle in the pack in terms of points per game, they score very efficiently, converting on 50% of their FG attempts. I believe their key to victory is to just believe in their defense because that is something they are damn good at.

Georgia Tech has a solid offense, scoring 75.5 PPG, but that number won’t be as accurate without Moses Wright. Even though they are missing some big production, GT has players that have the ability to share the ball, as they rank top 25 in assists. This will make it a little easier for other players to step up. GT has their work cut out for them, but they are a very good team even without their best player.

Betting Odds:

Loyola Chicago -5.5 (ML -240)

Georgia Tech +5.5 (ML +200)

O/U 124.5

Betting Trends:

Loyola Chicago (16-9-1 ATS)

*L-IL is 7-1-1 ATS in the last 9 games vs a team with a winning record

*L-IL is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games vs a team with a record above .600

*L-IL Over is 6-1 in the last 7 neutral site games as a favorite

Georgia Tech (15-10 ATS)

*GT is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 games overall

*GT is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win

*GT Over is 4-0 in the last 4 Friday games

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #5 TENNESSEE VS # 12 OREGON STATE

Tennessee (18-8; 10-7 SEC) takes on Oregon State (17-12; 10-10 PAC-12) on Friday, March 19th at 4:30pm on TNT

The Volunteers come off a loss to SEC Champions, Alabama, where they played hard till the end in the 5-point loss. Tennessee has stood its ground in the tough SEC, finishing 4th and grabbing wins over Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Florida.

The Vols use all their players almost equally when it comes to offense, having 8 of their players score 8 PPG or more. Their leading scorer is impressive freshman guard, Jaden Springer, who puts up 12.5 PPG. Springer is also knockdown from 3, shooting an outstanding 45%

Oregon State went on an unbelievable run, winning 6 out of their last 7. It’s not their amount of wins, but the quality. The Beavers won the PAC-12 Championship as a 5th seed, taking out the 1,3, and 4 seeds in the process. Oregon State has momentum on their side entering the tournament.

The Beavers look to their duo of guards to heavily contribute on offense. Ethan Thompson is their leading scorer at 15 PPG. Their #2 option Jarod Lucas averages 13 PPG, but it is his shooting that sets him apart, as he shoots 40% from 3pt land.

Tennessee is known for its stingy defense, only allowing 63.2 PPG and ranking in the top 25 defenses in the nation. They are also among the best blocking teams in the nation, averaging 5 per game and ranking in the top 15. It’s safe to say that the Vols don’t play around when it comes to defense, and that is what they will look to impose on the Beavers to assure their path to victory.

Oregon State isn’t particularly great at anything statistically, however, they do rank in the top 50 for least turnovers per game. Breaking through that defense will be a challenge in itself, but it helps to make every possession count, which can be assisted by their ability to hold on to the rock.

Betting Odds:

Tennesee -8.5 (-450 ML)

Oregon State +8.5 (+350 ML)

O/U 131

Betting Trends:

Tennesee (13-12-1 ATS)

*TENN is 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 games following a straight-up loss

*TENN is 0-4 ATS in the last 4 NCAA Tourney games as a favorite

*TENN Over is 9-0 in the last 9 neutral sites as a favorite

Oregon State (18-9-1 ATS)

*ORST is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 games overall

*ORST over is 6-0 in the last 6 games overall

*ORST Over is 6-0 in the last 6 games as an underdog

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #4 OKLAHOMA STATE VS #13 LIBERTY

Oklahoma State (20-8; 11-7 BIG 12) takes on the Liberty Flames (23-5; 11-2 ASC) on Friday, March 19th at 6:25 pm on TBS

OKST comes into this contest off a barn burner against #9 Texas in the BIG 12 finals. The Cowboys fell short 5 points but put on a show to remember. Oklahoma State finished 5th in the best conference in the country, getting key wins over conference rivals Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas. These are amongst the best teams in the country, and OKST knows how to take them all down.

You can’t mention the Cowboys without mentioning their star player, Cade Cunningham. The 6’7 freshman point guard can do everything, and he does it well. He is expected to be the #1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft, and his 20 PPG, 6 REB/G, and 3.6 AST all while shooting 41% from 3 has something to do with it. He has put his team on his back all year.

Liberty comes into this game without losing in the last 11 games. The Flames are (no pun intended) on fire right now, their last win being an Atlantic Sun title. Liberty has actually defeated some formidable opponents, taking down Miss. State and South Carolina. Liberty knows how to play out of conference opponents and can make it interesting for Oklahoma State

The Flames leave a chunk of their scoring duties to their little guy, 5’9 guard Darius McGhee. Don’t overlook his size because this kid can drop buckets on anyone, averaging 15.6 PPG and still grabs 4.4 REB/G. McGhee is a deadeye from deep too, as he converts on 41.3% of his attempts beyond the arc.

Oklahoma State is in the top 50 offenses in the league, thanks to Cade Cunningham. They score a very solid 77 PPG. The offense is clearly their main focus, because they have one of the worst defenses in the country, allowing 73 PPG. They may have a bad defense, but their big men still go to work, grabbing a 40th ranked, 42 REB/G. They should look to get Cade going early and make sure to break down the defense.

Liberty is quite the opposite, as they have a top 3 defense in their arsenal, allowing a measly 59.6 PPG. As their defense is tough, don’t overlook their offense because they can still score the ball well, dropping 75 PPG. The Flames should look to restrict Cade from doing what he does as much as possible, because the Cowboys aren’t great when he doesn’t do good, so they have to flex that defense if they want to win this game.

Betting Odds:

Oklahoma State -7.5 (-360 ML)

Liberty +7.5 (+285 ML)

O/U 139.5

Betting Trends:

Oklahoma State (17-10-1 ATS)

*OKST is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 90 points

*OKST is 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss

*OKST Over is 8-1 in last 9 games overall

Liberty (16-8 ATS)

*LIB is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 games as an underdog

*LIB is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games

*LIB is 3-0-1 in the last 4 games overall

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #2 HOUSTON VS #15 CLEVELAND STATE

Houston (24-3; 14-3 American) take on Cleveland State (19-7; 16-4 Horizon) on Friday, March 19th at 7:15 pm on truTV

The Houston Cougars have won 7 games in a row, which includes their American Athletic Conference Championship blowout win over Cincinnati. Houston has dominated The American all year, losing only 3 games in the conference. They are no stranger to out-of-conference play either. The Cougars took down Texas Tech and South Carolina at the beginning of the season. Experts believe that Houston is a dark horse in this tournament and has a good chance of making a deep run

Houston relies on the American Athletic Conference co-player of the year, Quentin Grimes, for offensive production. Grimes averages 18 PPG and 6 REB/G, also shooting 41% from downtown. Grimes is the real deal and is a very big reason why Houston is as good as they are.

Cleveland State enters the round of 64 as Horizon League champions, along with a 4-game win streak. Aside from the championship, Cleveland State is has been the best team in their conference, as they finished with the best record. They have little out-of-conference experience, but they kept up with Ohio State, only losing by 6.

The Vikings’ go-to guy is 6’5 senior guard, Torrey Patton. He’s their leading scorer at 15 PPG, but something that may come as a surprise, he’s also their rebounding leader with 8 per game at only 6’5! Patton provides some good scoring numbers and is an unexceptionally great rebounder, helping out his fellow big men clean the glass.

One thing Houston has done as well as you possibly can this season is limit their opponents’ points. The Cougars have the SECOND best defense in the country, only allowing an incredible 58 PPG. This is very impressive as the American Athletic Conference is actually pretty good, so they were shutting down legit teams all season. Houston also still has a top 50 offense as well, so they really get it done on both ends of the floor, and that is exactly what I expect them to do against a #15 seed.

Not to be a downer, but Cleveland state, statistically, doesn’t have much going for them. They don’t rank top 100 in any category, and that is very concerning for a team that’s going up against a top offense and one of the two best defenses in the nation. To keep it short and sweet, there is very little chance that Cleveland State wins this game, BUT that doesn’t mean they can’t cover!

Betting Odds:

Houston -20 (-4000 ML)

Cleveland State +20 (+1400 ML)

O/U 134.5

Betting Trends:

Houston (18-8 ATS)

*HOU is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite

*HOU is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games

*HOU Over is 5-1 in the last 6 games following a win of 20 or more

Cleveland State (17-8-1 ATS)

*CLEVST is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games

*CLEVST is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog

*CLEVST Over is 7-1-1 in the last 9 games following a straight up win

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #6 SAN DIEGO STATE VS #11 SYRACUSE

San Diego State (23-4; 14-3 Mountain West) match up against the Syracuse Orange (16-9; 9-7 ACC) on Friday, March 19th at 9:40 pm on CBS

SDSU is on an absurd run coming into this contest. The Aztecs have won their last 14 games, along with a Mountain West championship. San Diego State has been destroying the Mountain West all season, finishing 1st in the conference. They don’t many out-of-conference games, but of the few, they defeated Arizona State, and UCLA, who were both ranked at the time.

SDSU is led by the senior duo, Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel. Mitchell scores 15.4 PPG, and 14 PPG for Schakel. They are both very good scorers, but if one thing stands out, it’s the fact that Schakel is a top 20 3pt shooter in the nation, hitting a wild 46.7% of his 3pt attempts. This duo is very dangerous and they could be the reason for a deep run in the tournament.

Syracuse is coming off a tough 3-point loss to #1 seeded Virginia in the ACC tournament. That win could have given them a better seed in the tournament, or maybe even winning the ACC tournament overall. Although they are ranked a mediocre 8th in the ACC, Syracuse still has quality conference wins over North Carolina, Clemson, and Virginia Tech.

The Orange have a solid trio of scorers that give Syracuse a bulk of their production. At the top of the list is the son of the coach, Buddy Boeheim. The junior averages 17 PPG, shooting 37.3% from 3. Alan Griffin and Quincy Guerrier are the other two scorers, who each put up a smooth 14 PPG.

San Diego State is yet another team in this region that has lockdown defense, as they have the 8th best in the country, only letting up 60.6 PPG. The Aztecs keep their hands active all game, grabbing a 25th best, 8.3 STL/G. Staying true to their defensive schemes should be SDSU’s main priority, as Mitchell and Schakel should be able to produce well on offense.

Syracuse actually looks impressive on paper, ranking top 70 in points per game, averaging 76 PPG. You can thank the trio for those numbers. Although they don’t have a very good defense, the Orange rank top 15 in both steals and blocks, so they are still sneaky with their defense. This is going to be a straight-up offense vs defense display, so Boeheim and company need to get good looks to try and break down that SDSU defense.

Betting Odds:

San Diego State -3 (-155 ML)

Syracuse +3 (+135 ML)

O/U 139

Betting Trends:

San Diego State (14-12 ATS)

*SDSU is 1-4 in last 5 neutral site games as a favorite

*SDSU is 1-4 in the last 5 games overall

*SDSU Under is 14-3 in last 17 neutral site games

Syracuse (12-13 ATS)

*SYR is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 overall

*SYR is 4-0 ATS in last 4 Friday games

*SYR Over is 10-1 in last 11 neutral site games

March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews #7 CLEMSON VS #10 RUTGERS

Clemson (16-7; 10-6 ACC) will take on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers (15-11; 10-10 BIG 10) on Friday, March 19th at 9:20 pm on TBS

Clemson has had an up and down season up till this point, but they’ve found some success as of late. They have won 6 of their last 8 games coming into this matchup. Clemson has some solid out-of-conference wins this season, taking down Purdue and Alabama, as well as some in-conference wins over North Carolina and Louisville.

The Tigers look to their experienced senior forward, Aamir Simms, to produce for their offense. Simms is their do it all guy, averaging 13.3 PPG, 6.3 REB/G, and 2.7 AST, for Clemson. Simms is a sniper, shooting 40% from downtown. Luckily for the Tigers, he’s not the only shooter. There are 5 other players on his team that shoot above 35% from 3, the highest being Hunter Tyson who sprays it at a 42% clip from deep.

Rutgers had the definition of a rocky season. They started the season, 7-0, where they took out powerhouse Illinois and were ranked as high as #10 in the country. The Scarlet Knights are one of those teams whose record could be way better than it is, if not for losing multiple big games by mere possessions. They lost to Iowa by 2, Wisconsin by 6, and Michigan by 7. Rutgers could have had a high seed in the NCAA Tournament if they were on the other side of those games.

Rutgers is lead by an upperclassmen trio of guards, that are the heart and soul of this team. Ron Harper Jr. (Yes the son of NBA Legend Ron Harper) averages 15.5 PPG and 6 REB/G. Harper was playing at the player of the year level in that early-season run. Jacob Young is a senior who is the energy guy. He is a great on-ball defender, always staying in his defender’s face. Young also produces on offense, averaging 14.4 PPG. The last member of the trio is a man that is known for having cold blood, Geo Baker. His 10 PPG aren’t eye-popping, but he is one of those guys that make big shots when they count and can go get a bucket when you need it the most.

Clemson focuses on their defensive prowess to win games, as they are top 15th in the country for least opponent points per game at 62 PPG. The problem with this is that they may focus a little too much of their energy on defense, ranking 311th in scoring, at a measly 65.3 PPG. The Tigers are going to have to switch a little focus to offense in this tournament if they expect to make a run, as a lot of these teams are just too good offensively.

The Scarlet Knights don’t have great statistical numbers either, a big woe being that they shoot an almost D1 worst, 63.2% from FT. They are middle of the pack when it comes to offense and defense, scoring 70 PPG and allowing 68.2. Rutgers has a tough match-up ahead, facing the iron wall defense of Clemson. Rutgers has to move the ball around well and get easy shots, as they will be hard to come by with the Tigers’ smothering defense. If they go with pounding the ball as their gameplan, they absolutely have to step up and shoot better from the line than they have been all season.

Betting Odds:

Clemson +2 (+110 ML)

Rutgers -2 (-133 ML)

O/U 125.5

Betting Trends:

Clemson (11-11-1 ATS)

*CLEM is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games

*CLEM is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog

*CLEM Under is 4-1 in the last 5 games following an ATS loss

Rutgers (13-12-1)

*RUT is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss

*RUT is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games

*RUT is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of 20 or more

Thank you for reading my article, March Madness: Round of 64 – Midwest Region Game Previews! The Midwest is one of the most interesting regions, and personally my favorite (A little biased since Rutgers is my alma mater). My personal favorite match-ups I suggest watching are Rutgers vs Clemson, and Loyola Chicago vs Georgia Tech. I actually believe any of those teams could make a sweet 16 appearance, although it won’t be easy, these teams are geared up for the challenge.

Follow me on twitter @marcomorales_1 to stay up to date with my hot takes!

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