NCAA Basketball

We’re down to 8 teams that are ready to put it all on the line for a national championship. The PAC-12 has 3 out of 8 teams in the Elite 8, which I personally had none of them advancing here, but hey, what do I know. Two double-digit seeds have made it this far, #12 Oregon State and #11 UCLA. With the way this season, and tournament, has gone, in the wise words of Kevin Garnett, anything is possible! Enjoy my article, March Madness: Elite 8 – 3/29 Game Previews!

March Madness: Elite 8 – 3/29 Game Previews #2 HOUSTON VS #12 OREGON STATE

Houston (27-3; 14-3 American) takes on Oregon State (20-12; 10-10 PAC-12) at 7:15 pm on CBS

Houston enters this contest off of the domination of Syracuse. The already great Houston defense proved why they were deserving of their #2 in the country. They held a solid Syracuse offense to only 46 PTS all game, as they only made 14 shots all game. They forced Syracuse to turn the ball over 11 times that game, where they scored 18 PTS off of those extra possessions. Houston didn’t have a great game offensively, making only 38% of their FG attempts, but still ran away with a solid 62-46 victory.

The starting lineup contributed most of the offense for Houston, as the bench only scored 12 points. The Cougars’ leading scorer is the same person who has been doing it for them all year, Quentin Grimes. The junior guard had 14 PTS on the night, hitting 4 3s in the process. DeJon Jarreau did a little bit of everything, posting a near triple-double with 9 PTS 8 REB and 8AST.

Oregon State is on one of the best runs we’ve seen in a while for a team seeded this high. The Beavers are undefeated in the post-season, dating back to their PAC-12 championship win. They are fresh off of a win against Loyola Chicago, who has the best defense in the country. Oregon State’s defense was going to work as well, allowing only 16 points in the 1st half. They scored an impressive 65 points against the top defense, and they stand yet another test matching up with the next best defense in the country.

Senior guard Ethan Thompson has been the man for them all year, and he continues to put this team on his back. He dropped 22 PTS against Loyola Chicago to lead them past one of the best teams in the tournament. Warith Alatishe posted a double-double, scoring 10 PTS and coming down with 10 REB. The bench helped out a little bit, scoring 15 of their 65 points. Ethan Thompson has had an amazing tournament, and he can be a serious problem for Houston if he keeps playing at this level.

Houston has been showing just how good their defense is, as they have held every opponent to 60 PTS or less throughout this whole tournament. People say that defense wins championships, and although the season isn’t over yet, this much is still true for Houston. Their gameplan is very simple, keep to their defensive strengths and look to their top scorer, Grimes, to create his own shot and help to get his teammates involved as well.

Oregon State has been super impressive in every game they played this tournament. They have also been playing solid defense, holding two of their opponents to under 60 points. This game will be a battle on the defensive end, but Oregon State is going to have to keep it clicking on offense to be able to keep up with Houston. Running the offense through Thompson and limiting their turnovers can help the Beavers pave their path to victory. People have been writing off Oregon State all season, including me, and they have been proving everyone wrong each game, so watch out for this team that plays with a big chip on their shoulder.

Betting Odds:

Houston -8 (20-9 ATS)
-380 ML

Oregon State +8 (21-9-1 ATS)
+300 ML

O/U 129.5

Betting Trends:

*HOU is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Monday games
*HOU is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games as a favorite
*HOU is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games as a favorite

*ORST is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win
*ORST is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as an underdog.
*ORST is 13-3-1 in their last 17 games vs a team with a winning record

March Madness: Elite 8 – 3/29 Game Previews #1 BAYLOR VS #3 ARKANSAS

Baylor (25-2; 13-1 BIG 12) matches up against Arkansas (25-6; 13-4 SEC) at 9:57 pm on CBS

Baylor yet again gets the job done, as they have been all season. After a slow start, Baylor outscored Villanova 39-21 in the second half, taking the win 62-51. The Bears had only scored 23 points in the first half, but their top-tier defense kept them in it. They forced 15 turnovers, while only giving it away 5 times themselves. Taking care of the ball and not wasting possessions has been a huge factor in Baylor’s success.

It took a team effort on offense for the Bears to overcome their early deficit. Davion Mitchell was the top scorer in the starting lineup, with 14 PTS on 7 for 13 shooting. The Bears got a huge performance from their bench, as Adam Flagler dropped a game-high 16 PTS in only 24 minutes off the bench. The sheer scoring talent on this team is such an advantage. Someone will always pick up the slack if the Bears’ stars aren’t shining.

Arkansas slid past the red hot Oral Roberts, winning 72-70. Arkansas has won the last 2 games by 2 points, so regardless of the score, they know how to win and get it done. The Razorbacks got a ton of extra possessions, which eventually was the reason they came out victorious, as the defense forced 13 turnovers. They attempted 16 more shots than Oral Roberts, which you can credit to their 16 offensive rebounds, totaling 46 all game.

Jalen Tate was the leading scorer for the Razorbacks with a stat-line of 22 PTS 4 REB and 6 AST. Three other starters scored double digits; Justin Smith (12 PTS), Davontae Davis (16PTS), and Moses Moody (14 PTS). Their top scorer, Moody, shot a miserable 4-20 in this contest, so he will have to come out with a better performance this time around if the Razorbacks want to make it past this phenomenal Baylor squad.

Baylor has a top 5 offense in the country, which isn’t surprising. It is no mystery why they are ranked this high, but they have to be careful, as Arkansas isn’t too far behind them at #11. The Baylor defense must step up and allow their offense to get easy looks to run up this score. If they slack on defense, Arkansas will have no problem taking advantage of lazy defense and will drop buckets with ease. I believe the key to victory for Baylor is to play solid defense, and limit their turnovers so Arkansas doesn’t get extra opportunities to get their offense kicking.

On the flip side, Arkansas must find a way to get their offense clicking fast. Their defense is average, but average isn’t good enough when you’re facing an offense that has as much firepower as Baylor’s. They’re going to have to click on all cylinders on offense and show Baylor that they can score too. I think they should try and get Moody going early to prevent a performance similar to last week, and then start to look for his teammates to alleviate the pressure. This has the potential to be another close game, but it will come down to if the Razorbacks can keep up with Baylor’s offense.

Betting Odds:

Baylor -8 (17-10 ATS)
-370 ML

Arkansas +8 (19-10-1)
+290 ML

O/U 148

Betting Trends:

*BAY is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win
*BAY Over is 6-1 in the last 7 games following an ATS win
*BAY Over is 11-2 in their last 13 games following a straight up win

*ARK Under is 5-0 in their last 5 games overall
*ARK Under is 5-0 in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games
*ARK Under is 5-0 in their last 5 Monday games

These two games are going to be very interesting, despite both of them having high spread numbers. We have seen time and time again that the spread doesn’t always portray how the game ends up going. Every team left in the Elite 8 are all legit teams and any of them can win it all, obviously, some have a better chance than others. Regardless, these games are worth the watch and definitely have some intriguing betting value. I hope you found this information useful and enjoyed my article, March Madness: Elite 8 – 3/29 Game Previews!

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This has been the Marchiest March Madness I think I’ve ever seen. The upsets are becoming more common than not. There are 0 perfect brackets remaining, and mine is already in the dirt as well. Even though it’s been tough betting these games, they are a blast to watch! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy my article, March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews!

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #2 IOWA VS #7 OREGON

Iowa (22-8; 14-4 BIG 10) takes on Oregon (20-6; 14-4 PAC 12) on Monday, March 22nd, at 12:10pm on CBS

Iowa is coming off a solid round of 64 win against Grand Canyon, where they took down GCU 86-74. It was a fun one to watch because of the battle of their big men, Luka Garza and GCU’s Asbjorn Midtgaard. Garza and company got the best of him, as Luka dropped a smooth 24 PTS and 6 REB. Iowa got some solid production from the bench as they contributed 26 PTS in the win. Keegan Murray was the man off the bench, dropping a crucial 13 PTS, 7 REB, and staying tough on the inside with 4 blocks. The Hawkeyes came away with a solid team win

Oregon is coming into this game without having competed in the last round. Their opponents, VCU, had to withdraw from the tournament because of a COVID outbreak, which is very unfortunate. Nonetheless, the Ducks advanced. Oregon has had a great run in the PAC 12 this season, as they finished 1st in the conference. The Ducks have finished the regular season on a 5 game win-streak, taking out fellow tournament competitors, Oregon St. and UCLA. Oregon has shown all season they can shine against good opponents, and that’s what they look to do against Iowa.

Iowa showed how good their offense was last game, as they scored above their average of 83.3 PPG. The Hawkeyes have the 5th best offense in the country with that number. Contributing to that number is their ability to pass the ball, as they average the MOST assists in D1, at 19 per game. Iowa needs to repeat their last performance, where they got Luka going early, and allowed him to get good looks all game. Looking to the bench to help out the starters is another good way to keep the rotation fresh and ready to go in crunch time.

Oregon is top 100 in offense and defense, ranking 91st in both categories. The Ducks score 74.4 PPG and allow 67.4 PPG. Oregon is also known for its ability to hold on to the ball and not turn it over, averaging only 11 TO per game. Since Oregon hasn’t played yet, they will be fresh and ready to go. They need to look to their best players early, Eugene Omoruyi and Chris Duarte. These two are dangerous scorers and hard to stop once they’re going. The Ducks will have to try and limit Garza’s production, so they’re going to need big man, N’Faly Dante to step up if they want to have a good chance to win.

Betting Odds:

Iowa -5 (15-14-ATS)
-225 ML

Oregon (14-12 ATS)
+185 ML

O/U 148

Betting Trends:

*IOWA is 0-3-1 ATS in the last 4 games overall
*IOWA is 0-3-2 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games
*IOWA Over is 6-0 in their last 6 NCAA Tourney games

*ORE is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*ORE is 5-0-1 in their last 6 NCAA Tourney games
*ORE Over is 6-0 in their last 6 games following a straight-up win

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #1 GONZAGA VS #8 OKLAHOMA

Gonzaga (27-0; 15-0 WCC) takes on Oklahoma (16-10; 9-8 BIG 12) on Monday, March 24th, at 2:40 pm on CBS

Gonzaga is coming into this contest off of an absolute demolition of Norfolk State in the round of 64. They took the W by almost 50, winning 98-55. Senior forward, Corey Kispert dropped a game-high, 23 PTS, as he shot 6-9 from 3pt. Anton Watson contributed nicely off the bench, with 17 PTS, 7 REB, and 4 AST on a perfect 7-7 FG. The Zags shot an insane 55.7% from FG, making 14 3’s. It’s safe to say they did not come to this tournament to play around, and they are serious about winning it all

Oklahoma comes into this matchup with a very solid win over a good Missouri team, taking them out 72-68. Austin Reaves did it all in that game, scoring 23 PTS with 4 REB and 6 AST. Forward Brady Manek was lights out, shooting 5-9 from 3, totaling 19 PTS in the contest. Elijah Harkless dropped a swift 16-10 double double, helping the Sooners take down Mizzou. Oklahoma shot well from downtown that game, shooting 46% as a team. The Sooners will have to repeat those numbers and maybe even more if they want to upset the best team in this tournament.

Gonzaga is home to the #1 offense in the country, scoring 92.3 PPG. They wouldn’t be so efficient without their amazing assists numbers, with a 2nd ranked, 18.6 AST/G. The Zags are also the MOST efficient shooting team in the country, converting on 55% of their FG attempts. Gonzaga is the closest thing you will get to a perfect team as they have great individual players, but most importantly, just play sound technical basketball. The Zags look to run up the score against Oklahoma, going to their 3 elite scorers to get them big scoring numbers.

Oklahoma has a potent offense as well, ranking in the top 100 with 74.7 PPG. The Sooners are elite at making every possession count, as they rank top 25 in turnovers per game at 11. They are average on defense, allowing 69 PPG. If they want to keep up with Gonzaga, that defense will need to play their hearts out, because the Zags are prime to pop off at any moment. The Sooners have to play great perimeter defense to try and limit the great shooters of Gonzaga. If they can do that and get their scorers, Manek and Reaves, hot, they have a nice chance of sending the Zags packing.

Betting Odds:

Gonzaga -14 (13-12-2 ATS)
-1400 ML

Oklahoma +14 (13-13 ATS)
+850 ML

O/U 154.5

Betting Trends:

*GONZ is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite
*GONZ is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Monday games
*GONZ Over is 4-0 in their last 4 games following an ATS win

*OKLA is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog
*OKLA is 1-7 in their last 8 games overall
*OKLA Over is 4-1 in their last 5 neutral site games

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #11 UCLA VS # 14 ABILENE CHRISTIAN

UCLA (19-9; 13-6 PAC 12) matches up against Abilene Christian (24-4; 13-2 Southland) on Monday, March 22nd, at 5:15 pm on TBS

UCLA comes into this game off an upset win over BYU, 73-62. Sophomore star, Johny Juzang was sensational in this contest, dropping 27 PTS off of 10-16 FG. Juzang is their leading scorer and put his team on his back, impressive for a young guy. Guards, Jamie Jaquez Jr (13PTS 8REB) and Jules Bernard (16PTS 5REB) also contributed well to the win for the Bruins. UCLA’s ability to hold on to the ball was a big reason for their success in this matchup, as they limited themselves to only 3 turnovers all game. In a win or go home game, this is a critical area to be proficient at.

Abilene Christian is another team that is here because of an upset, via 53-52 victory over #3 Texas. ACU was not very good on offense at all this game, shooting only 30% as a team, but that clearly isn’t what won them the game. Defense is the name of the game for ACU, as they held Texas to 52 points. The most impressive stat of this game, which is absurd to me, is ACU forced 22 turnovers against Texas, where 23 PTS were scored off of those turnovers. As taking care of the ball is important, being able to put pressure on an offense and force turnovers is just as important.

UCLA is middle of the pack on both offense and defense, scoring 73.3 PPG and allowing 68.7 PPG. Their top 25 ranking in turnovers per game at 11, contributes heavily to their success, as it did in their round of 64 matchup. UCLA is up against an elite defense here and taking care of the ball will be absolutely crucial in deciding which team wins this game. The Bruins need to take care of the ball and share it well against this ACU defense. They need to get Juzang going early so he can open up the offense for the rest of his team

ACU has not only one of the best defenses in the tournament, but in the country, ranking 4th, allowing a mere 60 PPG. It has been a trend in this tournament, that no matter what conference a team plays in, the team with the great defense has come up victorious more times than not. ACU needs to keep the focus on defense again and try to keep forcing turnovers. Keeping the UCLA offense uncomfortable and shaken up will help them get more transition buckets and score off turnovers, which is how they won last game. They beat a great Texas team while only shooting 30%, that’s how dangerous this defense is. If they can repeat that and shoot better on offense, ACU has a great chance of advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.

Betting Odds:

UCLA -5 (14-14 ATS)
-200 ML

Abilene Christian (18-6 ATS)
+170 ML

O/U 133

Betting Trends:

*UCLA is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games
*UCLA is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs a team with a winning record
*UCLA Under is 5-1 in their last 6 games vs teams with winning % over.600

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #5 CREIGHTON VS #13 OHIO

Creighton (21-8; 14-6 Big East) takes on Ohio (17-7; 9-5 MAC) on Monday, March 22nd, at 6:10 pm on TNT

Creighton comes into this game off a nail-biter against UCSB, winning it 63-62. This game was almost another upset, as UCSB had the lead late, but Creighton rallied back to take what was theirs. Marcus Zegarowski scored a game-high 17 PTS and dished out 8 AST in the win. Christian Bishop contributed heavily, as he dropped a 15 point and 11 rebound double-double. The Bluejays’ offense propelled them to this victory, as they efficiently scored 45% of their FG attempts. Overall good performance by Creighton secured them a spot in the Round of 32.

Ohio comes into this contest after an upset over #4 Virginia. This game was amazing to watch, as it was back and forth all game until Ohio went on a late run and held on to secure their victory. Forward, Ben Vander Plas, was the games’ leading scorer, putting up 17 PTS along with 5 REB and 4 AST. This was a huge game from Vander Plas that helped Ohio more than you think. The Wildcat star, Jason Preston, dropped a near triple-double, as he had 11 PTS 13 REB, and 8 AST. Ohio didn’t have a great game shooting, but the defense was there, holding Virginia to 35% FG.

Creighton has a very potent offense, scoring 76.5 PPG, ranking in the top 60. The Bluejays are very efficient in shooting, 47% FG, and holding onto the ball, turning the ball over a 29th best, 11 times per game. Creighton didn’t hit their average last time, but the offense was still flowing well, which is a good sign for them. They did a good job holding onto the ball as well, only turning it over 8 times that game. They will need to tune the offense up a little bit before they enter the game with Ohio because the Wildcats can score. They need to be able to keep up on offense, so look for them to get Zegarowski started right away.

Ohio is dangerous on offense, and that is a fact. Ohio was stumped a little by Virginia’s defense, but they still grinded out the win. The Wildcats are a top 25 offense, amassing 80 PPG. They assist on many of these points, ranking 6th in D1, at 17.7 AST/G. Ohio also needs to tweak their offense for the matchup against Creighton to get back to their scoring ways. They have 5 scorers that average over 10 PPG, and they are unstoppable when those players are nearing the averages in a game. Preston and Wilson need to step up on the offense end this time around and expect them to do just that. This Ohio offense needs to play to their potential if they want a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.

Betting Odds:

Creighton -5.5 (13-16 ATS)
-225 ML

Ohio +5.5 (15-7 ATS)
+185 ML

O/U 148.5

Betting Trends:

*CREI is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as favorites
*CREI is 2-12-2 ATS in their last 16 NCAA Tourney games
*CREI Under is 4-0 in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as a favorite

*OHIO is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog
*OHO is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*OHIO is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs a team with a winning record

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #1 MICHIGAN VS #8 LSU

Michigan (21-4; 14-3 BIG 10) matches up against LSU (19-9; 11-6 SEC) on Monday, March 22nd, at 7:10 pm on CBS

Michigan enters this contest off a blowout win in the round of 64. Mike Smith was the Wolverines’ top scorer, dropping in 18 PTS along with 4 REB and 5 AST. Center, Hunter Dickinson, also contributed well, scoring 16 PTS himself. Guard, Franz Wagner has a near double-double, dropping 9 PTS and 9 REB. Michigan was super efficient on offense, scoring on 48% of their attempts. They assisted on 19 buckets, which is very impressive. They cooked up a great recipe for success with shooting efficiency and high assist numbers.

LSU had an impressive win last round, taking down St. Bonnies 76-61. NBA draft prospect, Cam Thomas, had a phenomenal game, as he scored 27 PTS. He had a great scoring outing, but his teammates had his back too. Trendon Watford, Aundre Hyatt, and Darius Days all had 10+ PTS and 10+ REB double-doubles. The Tigers were very active on the glass last game, grabbing 49 rebounds, 19 more than their opponent.

Michigan is as good as they are for a reason, ranking top 60 in offense and top 50 on defense, averaging 76.5 PPG and allowing 65.4 PPG. They are very efficient on offense, converting a 20th best 48.3% of FG, and a 21st best 78% of FT. The Wolverines are efficient in many categories and that is why they’re so good. They are very well-coached and play a winning brand of basketball. They have a tough matchup ahead of them, but they are battle-tested and have taken out top-talent all season long.

LSU has one of the best offenses in the country, ranking 9th and dropping 82 PPG. Cam Thomas is a huge part of that, averaging 23 PPG on one of the best ran offenses in the nation. The Tigers are also great at grabbing loose balls, averaging a top 40 42 REB/G. These two factors are what got them past St. Bonnies, and it will be the thing that can lead them past Michigan, as that would be playing into their strengths.

Betting Odds:

Michigan -5 (17-8 ATS)
-210 ML

LSU +5 (14-13-1)
+175 ML

O/U 147.5

Betting Trends:

*MICH is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Monday games
*MICH Under is 9-2 in the last 11 games vs teams with winning % over .600
*MICH Under is 13-3 in their last 16 games following a straight up win

*LSU is 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall
*LSU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*LSU Under is 5-0 in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #4 FLORIDA STATE VS #5 COLORADO

Florida State (17-6; 11-4 ACC) takes on Colorado (23-8; 14-6 PAC 12) on Monday, March 22nd, at 7:45 pm on TBS

Florida State enters this contest off of a tough fought win over UNCG, 64-54. Junior forward, RaiQuan Gray had a game-high 17 PTS, also grabbing 7 REB. The Seminoles big man, Balsa Koprivica, added a solid 13 PTS and 9 REB to the box score. Efficiency was the name of the game for FSU, as they converted on 52% of their FG attempts. The most impressive part about that is they did that all without making a 3 pointer. FSU had a solid all-around game and they look to bring the momentum coming into this game.

Colorado made sure to get some respect after blowing out Georgetown 96-73. The Buffaloes came to play, especially freshman forward, Jabari Walker. He scored a game-high 24 PTS, OFF THE BENCH! Walker shot a perfect 5-5 from downtown and 9-10 overall, an elite offensive performance. McKinley Wright IV also tremendously contributed, dropping a smooth double-double with 12 PTS and 13 AST. Colorado shot an absurd 60% from the field and 64% from 3.

Florida State has a top 40 offense in the country, scoring 78 PPG. They are very efficient on offense, as they showed last game, converting 47.6% of their FGs. They have an average defense, but their length allows them to be a top 10 team in blocks, averaging 5.2 BLK/G. FSU will have to keep being efficient against a great Colorado defense. They have to get going a little bit beyond the arc to start spreading out the defense. It will be tough if they don’t convert from 3 because Colorado will be a lot stronger just defending 2s.

Colorado is an elite defensive squad, ranking in the top 30, allowing 63.6 PPG. They are the MOST efficient team from the free-throw line, shooting 82.3%. They don’t have a high-ranked offense, but they proved last game that they are capable of putting up numbers as they almost dropped 100. Colorado can win this game if they keep their offense efficiency from the last game, and try and force FSU out to the 3pt line, as they aren’t great from out there.

Betting Odds:

Florida State -1.5 (11-10-2 ATS)
-125 ML

Colorado +1.5 (18-13 ATS)
+105 ML

O/U 141

Betting Trends:

*FSU is 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall
*FSU is 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite
*FSU is 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a neutral site favorite

*COLO is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*COLO is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a 20+ point win
*COLO Under is 6-1 in their last 7 games following an ATS win

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #2 ALABAMA VS #10 MARYLAND

Alabama (25-6; 16-2 SEC) matches up with Maryland (17-13; 9-11 BIG 10) on Monday, March 22nd, at 8:45 pm on TNT

Alabama is coming off of a 1st round win over Iona, 68-55. SEC Player of The Year, Herb Jones, scored a game-high 20 PTS off of 8-15 shooting, also grabbing 6 REB in the process. Bama got some solid production from their 6th man, Jahvon Quinerly, as he dropped in 11 PTS off of 5-7 shooting. Bama struggled from 3, shooting 31%, and from the FT line, shooting 13-23, this game, but caught fire toward the end of the game to finish it out. The defense stepped up, forcing 15 turnovers for Alabama.

Maryland comes into this game off of an impressive victory over #7 UCONN. It was all green for the junior guard, Eric Ayala, who scored a game-high 23 PTS and knocking down 3 3s in the process. Aaron Wiggins and Donta Scott helped with solid performances. Wiggins scored 14 PTS, 4 which were 3s, and Scott dropped in 12. Maryland was very efficient on offense last game, shooting better than 50% on FG and 3pt attempts.

Alabama enters this contest with one of the best offenses in the country, ranking top 30 with 79 PPG. They are also a great rebounding team as they grab an average of 44.7 REB/G. These two factors are what they’ve been winning with all season. Getting Herb Jones started early is a great gameplan, then switching it up with the high octane Quinerly off the bench. Bama has plenty of players that can score and they will all have to pay their due diligence to get this W over Maryland.

Maryland doesn’t have a great offense, but it is because of their defense that they are in this position. They have a top 40 defense, allowing 64.6 PPG. Their defense proved to be tough, as they held Bouknight and the Huskies to only 54 points. Dealing with this Bama offense is a whole different story, but that does not mean they can’t be stopped. They have to play a similar defense that they did last game, along with getting Ayala and Wiggins involved throughout the game. The Terps are a slept-on team, don’t be surprised if they keep this a close game, or even win it.

Betting Odds:

Alabama -6 (17-13 ATS)
-250 ML

Maryland +6 (13-16 ATS)
+210

O/U 138.5

Betting Trends:

*BAMA is 0-5 in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games as a favorite
*BAMA Under is 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS loss
*BAMA Under is 4-1 in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games

*MD is 5-1 in their last 6 games vs teams with a winning record
*MD Under is 4-0 in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*MD Under is 6-1 in their last 7 games overall

March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews #3 KANSAS VS #6 USC

Kansas (21-8; 12-6 BIG 12) takes on USC (23-7; 15-5 PAC 12) on Monday, March 22nd, at 9:40 pm on CBS

Kansas comes off a close game against EWU, where they won 93-84. They had 3, 20 point scores in the game. The top scorer was David McCormack, who came off the bench with 22 PTS and 9 REB. Ochai Agbaji dropped 21 PTS and 7 REB in this game. Marcus Garrett, who isn’t known for his offense, drops in an efficient 20 PTS, shooting 8-12 from the field. The Jayhawks were pretty efficient, shooting 48% in total and 40% from 3. They did a great job of taking care of the ball, only turning it over 5 times. Kansas proved to be a top team in this tournament last game, but they have a tough USC team in their way.

USC had a convincing win over Drake on Saturday, winning it 72-56. NBA lottery pick, Evan Mobley, ended with a double-double, scoring a team-high 17 PTS and grabbing 11 REB. Mobley also recoded 3 BLK. His brother, Isaiah had a great game himself, dropping 15 PTS and 5 REB on 6-7 shooting from the field. The Trojans were very efficient in this outing, converting on exactly half of their FG attempts. This was largely due to their high assist numbers, 20, that allowed them to get some good looks.

Kansas has a good defense, allowing 66.4 PPG. Marcus Garrett is their lockdown defender who helps contribute to this number. They only score 74 PPG but blew past that total when they dropped 93 on EWU. Kansas will have to be more defensively sound in this game, as they likely won’t repeat that offensive performance. Letting up 83 is a little too much and can be troublesome if it happens to them again. Sticking to their roots, strapping down on defense, will be a good path to victory for the Jayhawks. If they start letting up easy buckets, it could get ugly.

USC also has a top-tier defense, allowing only 64.8 PPG. They did a good job of displaying that against Drake, holding them to only 56 points. The Trojans are the 5th best blocking team in the nation, which is largely due to 7’0 Evan Mobley patrolling the paint. The Mobley brothers should look to have big games again, as they’re going to need to play above and beyond to take down this Jayhawks team with their tough defense.

Betting Odds:

Kansas +1 (14-13-1 ATS)
-110 ML

USC -1 (17-13 ATS)
-110 ML

O/U 134.5

Betting Trends:

*KU is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games as an underdog
*KU Over is 4-0 in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games as an underdog
*KU Over is 6-0 in their last 6 neutral site games as an underdog

*USC is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win
*USC is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games
*USC Over is 6-1 in their last 7 games following a straight-up win

That concludes my article, March Madness: Round of 32 – Monday Game Previews! Thank you for reading and I hope you found it useful! The round of 32 already has some world-class talent in it. These are some great matchups between some teams that have a legit chance at taking it all. I personally love USC vs Kansas, as we get to see a top prospect go up against a great defense.

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!

Welcome to March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews! I’m going to give analysis and preview the West region games for the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament. The West has some good spots for potential upsets and is home to the #1 team in the country, Gonzaga. I hope you find my analysis/advice useful, so sit back and enjoy!

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #3 KANSAS VS #14 EASTERN WASHINGTON

Kansas (20-8; 12-6 BIG 12) will go up against Eastern Washington( 16-7; 12-3 Big Sky) on Saturday, March 20th, at 1:15 pm on TBS

Kansas has had a great season thus far, entering this contest-winning 8 out of their last 9 games. They were in the mix to win the BIG 12 Championship when they got withdrawn for COVID-19 protocols. Kansas has HUGE wins this year, including Baylor, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. I think people are starting to sleep on Kansas a little bit because they have the tools to make a real run.

The Jayhawks have a super deep roster, having everyone in their starting 5 averaging over 10 PPG. Ochai Agbaji is the leading scorer, as he scores 14.2 PPG. Forwards, David McCormack, and Jalen Wilson both contribute heavily. McCormack drops in 13.4 PPG and grabs a team-high 6.1 REB/G, and Wilson scores a solid 12 PPG, while also bringing down 8.2 REB/G.

EWU is coming off a solid Big Sky Conference Championship win, which is their 4th win in a row. The Eagles finished 2nd in the Big Sky, running through their conference all season long. They had a few out-of-conference games, staying toe-to-toe with PAC-12 teams Arizona and Washington State.

The Eagles roster is just as deep as Kansas’ as they have 5 players averaging over 10 PPG as well. Their go-to-guy is Tanner Groves. The junior forward leads the team in points and rebounds, averaging 16.4 PPG and 9 REB/G. Three players on EWU shoot greater than 36% from 3, the most efficient being Tyler Robinson, at 38%.

Kansas has a very good defense, allowing a mere 66 PPG. This is very impressive because of how good the BIG 12 is and the elite offenses that are in the conference. Kansas has been able to limit some of the best teams in the country to some low scores. If they can replicate that against EWU, they should have no problem advancing.

EWU, on the flip side, has an elite offense, amassing 78 PPG. Their platoon of shooters helps them put up big numbers, no matter the opponent. The Eagles are also free throw maestros, ranking in the top 10, and hitting 78.7% of FT. EWU actually matches up well, as they can hit shots and convert on free throws very efficiently. If the shots aren’t falling, they can pound it inside until their shooters get going.

Betting Odds:

Kansas -10.5 (14-12-1 ATS)
-650 ML

Eastern Washington +10.5 (15-7 ATS)
+475 ML

O/U 147

Betting Trends:

*KU is 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall
*KU is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite
*KU Under is 6-1 in last 7 overall

*EWU is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games as an underdog
*EWU Over is 6-1 in their last 7 Saturday games
*EWU Under is 5-0 in their last 5 games overall

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #5 CREIGHTON VS #12 UC SANTA BARBRA

Creighton (20-8; 14-6 Big East) takes on UC Santa Barbra (22-4; 13-3 Big West) on Saturday, March 20th, at 3:30 pm on truTV

Creighton enters this matchup ranked #18 in the country on the AP Top 25. The Bluejays have had a solid season in the Big East, finishing 2nd in the standings. Creighton has solid wins this season over Uconn and Villanova. They lost a nail-biter to Kansas earlier in the season, so it’s evident that they can play up to their competition.

The Bluejays share the rock efficiently, having 5 players on the team averaging more than 10 PPG. Marcus Zegarowski is their #1 guy. The junior guard averages 15.5 PPG, 3.7 REB/G, and 4.3 AST, so he’s capable of doing a little bit of everything. Zegarowski also brings precision shooting to Creighton, shooting 41% from downtown.

UC Santa Barbra destroyed the Big West this season, finishing 1st in their conference and winning the championship game by 15 points. The Gauchos come into this game going 18-1 in their last 19 (yeah you read that right). This is probably one of the most impressive runs of a team in this whole tournament.

UCSB gets a lot of production from their senior guard, JaQuori McLaughlin. He averages 16 PPG and 5.2 AST, showing that they look to him for facilitation, as he does it well. The Gauchos also have some sharpshooters on their team, Miles Norris, Ajare Sanni, and McLaughlin all shoot above 38% from 3.

Creighton has a top 50 offense in the country, scoring 77 PPG. Their starting 5 accounts for the bulk of these points. The key to victory for the Blue Jays is to just play to their strengths, by passing the ball and finding open shooters. They are top 30 in assists and turnovers, so they understand how to effectively pass and find their teammates for good looks.

UCSB is rocking with one of the best defenses in the country, allowing only 62.8 PPG. Unlike a lot of teams that have a good defense, the Gauchos actually have a very sound offense, ranking in the top 60 at 76.5 PPG. Similar to Creighton, UCSB is top of the class in terms of passing and holing on to the ball, ranking top 25 in each category. Their key to victory is to just do what they do better because they have a very similar style to Creighton.

Betting Odds:

Creighton -7.5 (13-15 ATS)
-340 ML

UC Santa Barbra +7.5 (14-10 ATS)
+270 ML

O/U 137.5

Betting Trends:

*CREI is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight-up loss of 20pts
*CREI is 4-0-1 ATS in last 5 games after scoring less than 50 their last game
*CREI Over is 11-1 in their last 12 games following a loss of 20 pts or more

*UCSB is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs a team with winning % above .600
*UCSB is 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs a team with a winning record
*UCSB Over is 5-1 in their last 6 games following an ATS win

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #6 USC VS #11 DRAKE

USC (22-7; 15-5 PAC 12) is taking on Drake (26-4; 15-3 MVC) on Saturday, March 20th, at 4:30 on TNT

USC has undoubtedly been one of the best teams in the PAC 12 this year, finishing 2nd in the conference. They got bounced in the PAC 12 finals in a close 2 point loss to Colorado. The Trojans have solid wins over BYU, UCLA, and Oregon this season.

Every time you hear USC, it’s hard not to think about their big man, Evan Mobley. The potential NBA lottery pick is a 7’0 do-it-all type of player, that has handles, shoots 32% from 3, and grabs boards like a true big man. The NBA prospect averages an astounding 17 PPG and 8.5 REB/G, while also averaging 3 BLK/G on the defensive end. It’s shooters galore for USC, as they have 3 players that shoot over 39% from 3, which is absurd.

Drake was popular during the season for starting the season off on an 18 game win streak. If you don’t know them from that, maybe you saw them beat Wichita State in the First Four on Thursday, which was a down-to-the-last-shot type of game. It wasn’t their best outing, shooting only 37% as a team, but they did what they needed to do to win. Sophomore guard, Joeseph Yesufu ended the game with a team-high 21pts. The Bulldogs were still impressive, as they have been playing without their 2 best scorers. If they want to stop USC, they’re going to have to keep playing tough interior D, spearheaded by 285lb Darnell Brodie, and try to get better looks to get their FG% higher this game.

USC has a very solid defense, ranking in the top 50. It isn’t that surprising when you have a 7’0 monster lurking in the paint that can contest and block shots all game. It also helps them get rebounds, averaging a 23rd best 42.7. USC needs to keep Mobley active on both sides to allow the offense to click and defense to play tight

Betting Odds:

USC -6.5 (16-13 ATS)
-270 ML

Drake +6.5 (20-7 ATS)
+220 ML

O/U 135.5

Betting Trends:

*USC is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tourney games
*USC is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall
*USC Under is 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite

*DRKE is 1-9-1 in their last 11 Saturday games
*DRKE Over is 6-1 in the last 7 games following a straight-up win
*DRKE Over is 5-1 in their last 6 games as an underdog

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #2 IOWA VS #15 GRAND CANYON

Iowa (21-8; 14-6 BIG 10) matches up with Grand Canyon (17-6; 9-3 WAC) Saturday, March 20th, at 6:25 pm on TBS

Iowa has been at the top of the national rankings a few times this season, as they started the season 6-1 and took out North Carolina along the way. throughout the rest of the season, they did very well in the BIG 10, finishing 3rd in the conference. They have solid wins over Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Ohio State.

Iowa’s heart and soul is All-American 1st team member, Luka Garza. If you watch college basketball, you know who he is. The big man averages an incredible 23.7 PPG and 9 REB/G. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he shoots 40% from 3, as a 6’11 big man. It’s pretty much unfair that Iowa has this man on their team and he’s been a huge reason for their success this season.

Grand Canyon is coming fresh off a WAC championship win. GCU has been the top team in their conference, finishing with the best record too. Grand Canyon doesn’t have any impressive out-of-conference wins, but they kept it very close with Arizona State and Colorado, proving they can keep pace with the big guys.

GCU has a big man of their own at their disposal. Asbjorn Midtgaard (absolutely awesome name), is their #1 scorer and rebounder, averaging 14 and 10. That man is a presence in the paint and is a very efficient scorer, converting on 70% of his field goals. Luckily, he doesn’t have to do all the work as he has a pair of snipers, that both shoot over 39% from three, Chance McMillian, and Alessandro Lever.

Iowa has one of the best offenses in the country, where they rank 6th and drop 83.8 PPG. Iowa literally has the best big man in the country that can shoot, along with two players who shoot over 47% from 3. Their offense is unstoppable and it’s just that simple.

GCU is interesting because they have a top 10 defense in the country, holding their opponents to 61 PPG. It’s going to be very interesting to see how they deal with a top offense. The Midtgaard vs Garza big man matchup is going to be a show! GCU should try and focus on getting Midtgaard to contest Luka and deny him the ball, to try to see if they can limit his touches, lowering Iowa’s chances of scoring or facilitating out of the post as efficiently.

Betting Odds:

Iowa -14 (15-13-1 ATS)

Grand Canyon +14 (15-5 ATS)

O/U 145

Betting Trends:

*IOWA is 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite
*IOWA is 0-2-2 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games
*IOWA Over is 5-0 in their last 5 tournament games

*GCU is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog
*GCU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games
*GCU Under is 7-1 in their last 8 games following a straight up win

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #4 VIRGINIA VS #13 OHIO

Virginia (18-6; 13-4 ACC) takes on Ohio (16-7; 9-5 MAC) on Saturday, March 20th, at 7:15 pm on truTV

Virginia was on their way to shoot at an ACC title when they got hit with COVID-19 protocol and had to be withdrawn. The Cavaliers were on a 3 win streak at the time. They finished 1st in the ACC and were predicted to take the ACC Championship. They have solid ACC wins this year over UNC and Clemson.

UVA looks to their duo of forwards to give the production. Sam Hauser is their leader in points, averaging 16 PPG and 6.7 REB/G, while Jay Huff is their leading rebounder, grabbing 7 REB/G and scoring 13 PPG. These two also can sling the rock from 3. Hauser shoots a crazy 43% clip, while Huff sprays it at 40%.

Ohio surprisingly finished 5th in the MAC, but still managed to make the NCAA tournament. The reason why is because they won the MAC tournament, taking out the 1, 2, and 4 seeds along the way. Talk about underdogs! Ohio proved they were a tough out at the beginning of the season as they came close to taking down Illinois, only losing by 2.

Ohio has a solid starting 5, who all average over 10 PPG. The two guys to keep an eye on is Jason Preston, who averages 16.6 PPG, 7.2 AST, and & REB shooting 3s at 40%. This kid is a human Swiss Army Knife. His partner, big man, Dwight Wilson III, contributes a good workload as well, averaging 15 PPG and helping on the boards with 7.5 REB/G

UVA plays absolute lockdown defense this season, ranking 6th in all of D1. Their duo of stud big fellas contributes a lot to that fact, as well as being coached and disciplined well. The Cavaliers don’t score many points on offense, but they run the offense efficiently, scoring on 48% of their FGs, 81% of their FT, and only turn the ball over 9 times a game, which is 3rd least in D1.

Ohio is wicked on offense, averaging 81 PPG, which is ranked in the top 20. They are also very sound on offense, ranking 6th in assists and converting on 49% of their shots. This Ohio team is very scary and could be the one to upset a powerhouse like Virginia. If they can keep up on offense and try and force Virginia to make some mistakes, this game could get very interesting.

Betting Odds:

Virginia -7 (11-12-1 ATS)
-340 ML

Ohio +7 (14-7 ATS)
+270 ML

O/U 130.5

Betting Trends:

*UVA is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall
*UVA is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games
*UVA Over is 5-1 in their last 6 overall

*OHIO is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog
*OHIO is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games
*OHIO is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #8 OKLAHOMA VS #9 MISSOURI

Oklahoma (15-10; 9-8 BIG 12) takes on Missouri (16-9; 8-8 SEC) on Saturday, March 20th, at 7:25 pm on TNT

Oklahoma is coming off a tough run, as they lost 5 out of their last 6. This is hopefully just a bump in the road for the Sooners, as they were at one point a Top 25 team in the country. Although they finished 6th in the BIG 12, they have huge wins this season over; Texas, Alabama, Kansas, and West Virginia. Oklahoma came up big time and time again against top-tier teams, and they look to continue that instead of what has been happening recently for them.

The Sooners look to their senior do-it-all guard, Austin Reaves. This guy does a little bit of everything, along with being an elite scorer. Reaves has a stat line of 17.7 PPG, 5/7 REB/G, and 4.7 AST. Oklahoma also has sharpshooter, Umoja Gibson, who contributes to the offense by way of superior 3pt shooting, hitting 41.5% of his 3s.

Missouri finished 7th in the SEC, which isn’t impressive, but to be fair, the SEC is very tough. Missouri started off the season scorching, winning 6 in a row and taking out Illinois and Oregon in the processes. They also took out Alabama and Tennessee not soon after. Their run of greatness would come to a screeching halt, as they lost 6 of their last 9 games. The Tigers look to get back to early-season form, entering this contest.

Mizzou depends on its trio of upperclassmen for consistent production. Guards, Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith, both put up 14 PPG and shoot over 35% from 3, respectively. Their senior big man, Jerimiah Tilmon, makes up the last part of their trio, as he averages 12 PPG and grabs 7 REB/G.

Oklahoma scores 75 PPG, which isn’t a top number in the country but is impressive enough for playing in the defensive-heavy BIG 12. They have been putting up some pretty big numbers against some of the best competition all year. They excel at holding on to the ball, only turning the ball over 11 times per game. They should look to continue to run up the score and keep limit their turnovers, raising their chances of victory.

Missouri is middle of the pack in both offense and defense, scoring 73.6 PPG and let up 72 PPG. The Tigers are another team that doesn’t statistically intrigue you, but if you watch them you know the damage they can do. just like Oklahoma, they have been taking down top teams all year, and they look to repeat that in this contest, in order to make their run in this tournament.

Betting Odds:

Oklahoma -1 (12-13 ATS)
-115 ML

Missouri +1 (12-13ATS)
-105 ML

O/U 139.5

Betting Trends:
*OKLA is 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games overall
*OKLA is 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss
*OKLA is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss

*MIZZ is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tourney games
*MIZZ is 1-7 in their last 8 games against a team with a winning record
*MIZZ Over is 5-1 in their last 6 Saturday games

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #1 GONZAGA VS #16 NORFOLK STATE

Gonzaga (26-0; 15-0 WCC) takes on Norfolk State (17-7; 8-4 MEAC) at Saturday, March 20th, at 9:20 pm on TBS

Gonzaga is, well, actually the best team in this whole tournament. The Zags have not even come close to losing a game this season. There are always skeptics about Gonzaga because of their conference, but they proved doubters wrong, as they beat Kansas, West Virginia, and Iowa. Simply put, these guys are no joke

The Zags are absolutely loaded on offense. Their top scorer, Corey Kispert, is seen as one of the best players in the nation, dropping 19 PPG and grabbing 5 REB/G, hitting an insane 44% of his 3s. Drew Timme is their big man who also averages 19 PPG but grabs 7 REB/G. If that wasn’t enough, their 3rd scoring option is an NBA Draft lottery prospect, Jalen Suggs, who has a solid stat line of 14 PPG, 5.5 REB/G, and 4.5 AST. This team is just simply not fair.

Norfolk State is actually on a very solid run themselves, coming off a nail-bitter in the First Four against Appalachian State. Junior guard Jalen Hawkins was the X-Factor in the game, dropping a swift 24 points off the bench, hitting 4 of his 5 three-pointers. The Spartans are on a 7 game win streak coming into this one.

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Gonzaga has the actual BEST offense in the league, scoring an insane 92 PPG. They are also super-efficient converting on over half of their shots at 55.5%. I don’t like to say this because there are always upsets, but Norfolk State does not stand a sliver of a chance against this Zags super team.

Betting Odds:

Gonzaga -33 (12-12-2 ATS)
-8000 ML

Norfolk State +33 (13-8-1 ATS)
+1700 ML

O/U 154

Betting Trends:

*GONZ is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games
*GONZ is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as neutral-site favorites
*GONZ Over is 11-2 in the last 13 neutral-site games

*NORF is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall
*NORF is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
*NORF Under is 4-0 in their last 4 games as an underdog

March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews #7 OREGON VS #10 VCU

Oregon (20-6; 14-4 PAC 12) matches up against VCU (19-7; 10-4 A10) on Saturday, March 20th, at 9:57 pm on TNT

Oregon was on a 6 game winning streak before they lost in the PAC-12 champion, Oregon State. Oregon has been at the top of the PAC-12 all year, finishing 1st in the standings. They have solid wins over Colorado, Oregon State, and UCLA.

The Ducks are lead by their duo of seniors, Eugene Omoruyi, and Chris Duarte. Omorouyi is a transfer from Rutgers, who averages 16.7 PPG and 4.7 REB while shooting 38% from downtown. Duarte averages the same amount of points, but has a higher rebound number at 5.2 REB/G, and shoots the ball a little bit better at a very good 43% from 3.

VCU has been a great Atlantic 10 team this season, falling just short of a championship, losing to St. Bonaventure in the finals. The Rams finished 2nd in the standings. They don’t have much out-of-conference experience, however, they have a solid win over Utah State, and kept it close with West Virginia.

The Rams get a ton of production from their #1 scorer, Nah’Shon Hyland. The junior guard is the best player in his conference, winning A-10 player of the year. Hyland puts up great numbers, averaging 19.5 PPG and 4.7 REB/G, also knocking down 3s at a 37% clip. Hyland is their main option, but forward Vince Williams Jr. helps out, averaging 10.6 PPG and spraying from downtown at 41%

Oregon has an above-average offense, scoring 74.4 PPG. They find a lot of success because they take good shots and score efficiently, converting on 47% of their FG. Their dynamic duo should look to get going early so they can get their other teammates involved when the defense starts to focus on them. Getting good shots is critical in a win or go-home situation.

VCU possesses a top-tier defense, ranking in the top 50 in the country, allowing only 65 PPG. They play solid on-ball defense and are pesky with their active hands, as they rank in the top 5 in both steals and blocks. The Rams should use this to their advantage to frustrate Oregon and get their man, Hyland, some easy buckets to get him started. This matchup is a very intriguing one and I suggest everyone tune in.

Betting Odds:

Oregon -5.5 (14-12 ATS)
-230 ML

VCU +5.5 (14-12 ATS)
+190 ML

O/U 137.5

Betting Trends:

*ORE is 5-0-1 in the last 6 NCAA Tourney games
*ORE is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 overall
*ORE Over is 6-0 in their last 6 games following a straight-up loss

*VCU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS loss
*VCU is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight-up loss
*VCU Over is 6-0 in their last 6 NCAA Tourney games


Thank you for reading my article, March Madness: Round of 64 – West Region Game Previews! The West has awesome matchups, and of course, the best team in the nation right now in Gonzaga. I like Oregon vs VCU, and Oklahoma vs Missouri. Both of these matchups have teams that are similar to each other, so it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top. As always, I hope you enjoyed my previews, good luck, and happy betting!

Follow me on Twitter @marcoluismorales_1 to stay up to date with my hot takes!

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

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

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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!

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

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