March Madness: Sixth-round strategy for the $5K USA TODAY’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool

College basketball expert Kevin Erickson makes his final pick in the $5K NCAA Men’s Tournament Survivor Pool.

The NCAA Championship Game is set. It’s the 5th-seeded San Diego State Aztecs and 4th-seeded UConn Huskies taking center stage Monday night in Houston to play for all the marbles.

If you’re fortunate enough to still have one or both of them eligible for the USA TODAY’s NCAA Men’s Tournament Survivor Pool contest and you haven’t been eliminated, which team do you pick?

Only 24 entries remain out 8,109 entrants, but only 3 can even make a pick since 21 of those remaining already picked the Aztecs or Huskies along the way.

I would have been eliminated in the 1st round with my pick of No. 2 seed Arizona, which was knocked out by 15th-seeded Princeton. My 2nd-round picks also would have sent me packing as I selected 13th-seeded Furman, which lost to San Diego State, and 9th-seeded Auburn, which lost to a No. 1 seed in Houston.

At least I bounced back with No. 6 seeded Creighton defeating Princeton in the 3rd round, and with 5th-seeded Miami topping No. 2 seed Texas in the 4th round. Unfortunately, I would have lost in the 5th round on No. 9 seed FAU’s buzzer-beater loss to San Diego State.

SDSU is playing for its 1st national title in program history; UConn is playing for its 5th and will be making its 6th Final Four appearance.

If I were still alive in the Men’s Basketball Tournament Survivor Pool, here’s my strategy.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

National Championship pick

UCONN HUSKIES (30-8)

Who they play: San Diego State Aztecs (32-6)

When: Monday, 9:20 p.m. ET (CBS)

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston

UConn (-7.5) is a nice-sized favorite against San Diego State, per BetMGM Sportsbook. As mentioned, I picked against the Aztecs twice in this contest, using Furman in the 2nd-round in what I hoped would be a points grab (it wasn’t), and taking FAU in the 1-point semifinal loss.

The Huskies steamrolled the Miami Hurricanes in the other semifinal game, winning 72-59. It was actually a lot worse at one point as UConn led by 20 points early in the second half before Miami made it somewhat respectable.

Still, UConn has looked the part of national champion from the jump. There’s a reason the sportsbooks installed the Huskies as 7.5-point favorites.

If the Huskies win Monday, it’s thanks in large part to F Adama Sanogo. He posted 21 points (9-for-11 from the field) with 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in Saturday’s win over the Hurricanes. He also hit 2 of 3 behind the 3-point line. If there was anything for the critics to pick on, it’s the fact he was 1-for-4 from the free-throw line. I imagine coach Dan Hurley and Huskies fans will give Sanogo a pass.

The good news for the Huskies is that G Jordan Hawkins, who blamed calamari for food poisoning prior to Saturday’s game, was able to fight through and play against Miami. He hit just 3 of 8 from the field, but all 3 makes were from the perimeter. He ended up with 13 points, 3 boards and a blocked shot.

I expect UConn to win its 5th title Monday. The Huskies have a thing about playing and winning title games in Texas, where they’ve won 3 of their 4 championships.

They last won in 2014 under then-coach Kevin Ollie with the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Jim Calhoun was the coach of the Huskies’ previous 3 titles. One was in 2011 in this same building, then known as Reliant Stadium. In 2004, UConn won in the Alamodome in San Antonio. Their other title came in 1999, won at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The point is: Roll with UConn Monday, and don’t look back.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

March Madness National Championship first look: San Diego State vs. UConn odds and lines

Looking at Monday’s San Diego State vs. UConn national title game odds, lines and trends. Here’s what you need to know.

The San Diego State Aztecs (32-6) and UConn Huskies (30-8) will meet for all the marbles Monday night in the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game. Tip-off from NRG Stadium in Houston is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET (CBS).

Below, we look at the San Diego State vs. UConn odds from BetMGM Sportsbook. Plus, check out SportsbookWire’s college basketball expert picks and predictions.

San Diego State, the No. 5 seed from the South Region, advanced to its 1st title game in program history when G Lamont Butler hit a mid-range jumper at the buzzer for a 72-71 victory over FAU, the No. 9 seed from the East Region.

The Aztecs, who trailed by 14 points with 13:53 left, didn’t cover the spread as 2.5-point favorites in claiming their 9th consecutive win. The Over 130.5 easily cashed.

The Aztecs covered in their previous 6 games, including 4 in the NCAA Tournament. They beat 12th-seeded Charleston 63-57 as 5.5-point favorites in the 1st round, 13th-seeded Furman 75-52 as 4.5-point favorites in the 2nd round, No. 1 seed Alabama 71-64 as 6.5-point underdogs in the Sweet 16, 6th-seeded Creighton 57-56 as 2.5-point dogs in the Elite 8 and FAU Saturday.

The Aztecs won the Mountain West regular-season title and the conference’s postseason tournament. Until this NCAA tourney, the furthest SDSU had advanced was the Sweet 16 — twice (2011 and ’14).

Meanwhile, UConn is a win away from its 5th national championship and they are a perfect 5-0 in the title game, last cutting down the nets in 2014. The Huskies, the No. 4 seed in the West Region, defeated Midwest Region 5-seed Miami 72-59 in Saturday’s 2nd semifinal. They covered as 6-point favorites with Under 148.5 cashing.

UConn’s 5 NCAA tourney wins are all by double digits. The Huskies beat No. 13 seed Iona 87-63 as 9-point favorites in the 1st round, 5th-seeded Saint Mary’s 70-55 as 3.5-point favorites in the 2nd round, No. 8 seed Arkansas 88-65 as 3.5-point favorites in the Sweet 16, 3rd-seeded Gonzaga 82-54 as 2.5-point favorites in the Elite 8 and Miami in a Saturday semifinal.

UConn enters Monday on a 5-game win streak. The Huskies finished 4th in the Big East regular season with a 13-7 record and lost in the conference tournament semifinals to top-seeded Marquette before embarking on their current 5-game run to the title game.

The final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll before the NCAA Tournament had the Aztecs ranked 18th and the Huskies 12th.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]

San Diego State vs. UConn odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:16 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): San Diego State +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | UConn -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): San Diego State +7.5 (-110) | UConn -7.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

2022-23 betting stats (including postseason):

  • ML: San Diego State 32-6 | UConn 30-8
  • ATS: San Diego State 19-16-2  | UConn 26-11-1
  • O/U: San Diego State 15-22 | UConn 20-18

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

San Diego State vs. UConn head-to-head

Monday will mark the 2nd all-time meeting between the Aztecs and Huskies.

They met in a 2011 Sweet 16 matchup in Anaheim with UConn defeating San Diego State 74-67. The Huskies were a No. 3 seed, while the Aztecs were seeded 2nd. The game was a pick-’em and the O/U line was 130.0 (according to sports-reference.com).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Twitter agreed: officiating in March Madness tournament was trash

“May you freely walk over obstacles in life like Kim Mulkey can on a basketball court”

When all sports Twitter comes together to raise concerns over something, you know it’s bad. Fans on both sides of the aisle along with prominent basketball media made it known that the officiating in the women’s national championship game was awful. Not just awful, downright atrocious. Multiple players on both teams had two fouls in the first quarter.

LSU walked away with the national championship defeating Iowa, 102-85.

While people have complained about the officiating all tournament, the level of whistles and fouls called in the championship game was on another level. The game had a sellout crowd, and the boos from both sets of fans were sometimes loud and deafening.

Even Iowa’s head coach Lisa Bluder, who is known for her calm and composure, was visibly upset on the sidelines.

Some speculated how LSU’s head coach Kim Mulkey could walk onto the court and make contact with an official and not get called for a technical. One thing is apparent, the officiating in this game was not professional and seemed to follow no rules.

LSU Tigers win first basketball championship in school history

LSU’s Angel Reese recorded the most double-doubles in a single season with 34, breaking her own previous record of 33.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers came out with a vengeance in the National Championship game on Sunday. However, LSU walked away with the national championship defeating Iowa 102-85.

In the first half, LSU was shooting over 69% in 3-pointers made with Jasmine Carter shooting 5-5. The Tigers were over 52% from the paint and over 90% from the free throw line. At the half, LSU leads the Hawkeyes 59-42.

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is 50% from the three-point line with six made three-pointers in the first half. She broke the single-tournament record for most 3-pointers made with 32 and the single-tournament record for most points scored with 191 points, beating the previous points record set by Sheryl Swoopes.

LSU’s Angel Reese recorded the most double-doubles in a single season with 34, breaking her own previous record of 33. She finished the game with 10 rebounds and 15 points. While her teammate, Jasmine Carson finished the game with 22 points and 3 rebounds with 15 points coming from 3-pointers alone. Five LSU players walked away with double-digit scoring.

Clark made eight 3-pointers in the game and had 30 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists. Three other players also had double-digit scoring for the Hawkeyes, but it just wasn’t enough to take down the Tigers.

The game was another sellout crowd with 19,482. Women’s March Madness as a whole just set an all-time women’s attendance record with 357,542 fans.

Women’s Final Four most-viewed women’s semifinals games in ESPN history

The LSU and Virginia Tech game peaked at 5 million views while South Carolina and Iowa peaked at 6.6 million.

The women’s final four were the most-viewed NCAA D1 women’s college basketball semifinals in ESPN history with an average of 4.5M viewers. The LSU and Virginia Tech game peaked at 5 million views while South Carolina and Iowa peaked at 6.6 million. They were the 2 most-viewed basketball games, men’s or women’s, ever on ESPN+.

This comes as no surprise to anyone who watched these fierce matchups. The South Carolina and Iowa game was a sell out with 19,288 fans in attendance. The American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas held the Final Four games and holds the National Championship on April 2. This arena is home to the Dallas Stars of the NHL and the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA.

LSU and Iowa will take the stage one last time this season on April 2 to see who will take home the National Championship. This is the first time in program history the LSU Tigers, men or women, have made it to the National Championship game. This is the first time Iowa’s women’s basketball program has reached the National Championship game and only the second time in school history.

The D1 National Championship takes place Sunday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

Geauxing to the ‘Ship, LSU moves on to the National Championship game

While neither team shot exceptionally well, the Tigers roared back in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

For the first time in women’s basketball program history, LSU is headed to the National Championship after defeating Virginia Tech 79-72 in the Final Four.

This is head coach Kim Mulkey’s second year with the program. While neither team shot exceptionally well, the Tigers roared back in the fourth quarter to take the lead. The Hokies had 18 turnovers to LSU’s seven turnovers and at the end of the day, that made the difference.

LSU’s Angel Reese broke her double-double record and recorded her 33rd double-double of the season. She now has more than any other player in Division I basketball, men’s or women’s. Hokies player Georgia Amoore also set a record of her own. She has the most 3-pointers in the NCAA women’s tournament at 23. She made four alone in this game.

Both schools made history for their school getting this far, but the Tigers will be advancing. They will face the winner of the South Carolina vs Iowa game. The Championship game will air at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 2 on ABC at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01gq2fszf7mxxc88k4 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

March Madness: Fifth-round strategy for the $5K USA TODAY’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool

College basketball expert Kevin Erickson is here to help you win the $5K NCAA Men’s Tournament Survivor Pool with a 5th-round pick.

Then there were 4.

If you’re still alive in the USA TODAY’s NCAA Men’s Tournament Survivor Pool contest heading into this weekend’s Final Four, way to go! After the Elite 8 action, only 61 entries out of 8,109 remain alive.

We’re down to 4 teams — the 9th-seeded FAU Owls, two 5 seeds in the Miami Hurricanes and San Diego State Aztecs and the 4th-seeded UConn Huskies.

If you’re one of the remaining 61 entries, congrats on staying alive until Houston. With a decent number of points still available, it could be a wild finish for the $5,000 prize.

As an employee, I was ineligible to win this NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool contest. I would have been eliminated in the 1st round, anyway, when No. 2 seed Arizona was upset by 15th-seeded Princeton. My 2nd-round picks wouldn’t have been any better with Furman losing to San Diego State, and Auburn falling to Houston.

At least I bounced back with Creighton defeating Princeton in the 3rd round, and with Miami topping Texas in the 4th round.

Meanwhile, the national championship remains wide open.

FAU, Miami and San Diego State are playing in their 1st-ever Final Four, while UConn has 4 national titles and will be making its 6th Final Four appearance.

So, this is certainly unchartered territory for 75% of the remaining field.

Here’s my strategy of how to advance into the title game of this Men’s Basketball Tournament Survivor Pool.

Since the Sweet 16, remaining entries were/are required to pick just 1 team to win in each of the final 4 rounds — no spread involved. Once you pick a team, it can’t be used again, similar to an NFL survivor pool.

We were required to picked 3 winning teams in the 1st round and 2 winners in the 2nd round

Now, you’ll pick 1 team in the Final Four and then the National Championship Game winner — if you still have eligible teams left to choose from.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]

The other significant rule is that points are earned equal to your winning teams’ seeds.

There are still a few available points in the Final Four:

  • 9 points – FAU Owls
  • 5 points each – Miami Hurricanes, San Diego State Aztecs
  • 4 points – UConn Huskies

Then again, you might have already burned one or more of these 4 semifinalists and your options are limited.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Final Four pick

FAU OWLS (35-3)

Who they play: San Diego State Aztecs (31-6)

When: Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS)

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

If you haven’t picked the Owls yet, then it’s high time to use them up now. If FAU is able to advance, those 9 points would be huge at this stage of the contest.

FAU (+2.5) isn’t nearly as big of an underdog as Miami (+5.5), which is in the 2nd semifinal vs. UConn, per BetMGM Sportsbook. Plus, I already used Miami in the last round in its upset win vs. Texas.

The Owls started their basketball program in 1988. Heck, Florida Atlantic University was only founded in 1961, too.

FAU had been to the NCAA Tournament only once before, back in 2002 when it lost as a 15-seed in the 1st round to 2nd-seeded Alabama. So, FAU’s 1st NCAA Tournament win was just over 2 weeks ago (March 17) with a 66-65 squeaker over 8th-seeded Memphis. The Owls went on to win 3 more times to earn this trip to the Final Four.

FAU topped Memphis, with a controversial call at the end, and then it was fortunate enough to draw a 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson for a chance at the Sweet 16. It topped FDU by 8 (78-70), but it still looked like there would be a huge, uphill battle, to even think about Houston.

In the Sweet 16, the Owls played their best basketball of the tournament at Madison Square Garden, beating 4th-seeded Tennessee 62-55. The Owls recovered from a low-scoring, 22-point first half by posting 40 2nd-half points in the 7-point victory. They shot a respectable 42% (21-for-50) from the field against a strong Vols defense, and hit 29.6% (8-for-27) from behind the 3-point line.

If FAU is to knock off San Diego State, it will need to perform like it did against Tennessee.

The Aztecs have a similar lockdown defense, which is just about as good as anybody in the country. It’s San Diego State’s offense that concerns. In the regular season, only G Matt Bradley (13.0 PPG) averaged double-digit points.

If FAU runs, and is able to dictate the tempo, will San Diego State be able to hang offensively? I don’t believe so.

The one thing that is very much in San Diego State’s favor, making FAU a risky pick, is that the Aztecs ranked 15th in defensive 3-pointer percentage (29.8%) during the regular season, according to Covers.com.

The Owls go 9-deep in their rotation, and coach Dusty May likes to get guys like G Jalen Gaffney (32.3%) and G Brandon Weatherspoon (33.3%) off the bench for their 3-point ability. G Johnell Davis hits 36.6% from behind the arc, and 1st-round hero G Nick Boyd sinks 39.3% of his 3-point attempts.

The Owls have the depth to solve the Aztecs defense and continue an unlikely run to the title game.

Good luck and make sure to check back before Monday’s National Championship Game for the final pick.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

March Madness: FAU vs. San Diego State odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s FAU vs. San Diego State odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 9th-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls (35-3) and No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs (31-6) clash in a national semifinal Saturday in Houston. The battle at NRG Stadium will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the FAU vs. San Diego State odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

FAU is No. 25 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Owls have advanced to the Final Four with 4 wins. Two of those — against Memphis and No. 13 Kansas State — were by a combined 4 points. The Conference USA champs tote an 11-game win streak into this game.

The 18th-ranked Aztecs are a defensive-minded team on a roll. Across 3 Mountain West Conference Tournament wins and 4 NCAA Tournament triumphs, San Diego State have held opponents to 56.6 points per game on a shooting mark of 35.2%.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]

FAU vs. San Diego State odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:36 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: FAU +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | San Diego State -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): FAU +2.5 (-110) | San Diego State -2.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

FAU vs. San Diego State picks and predictions

Prediction

San Diego State 69, FAU 65

Moneyline

The Aztecs have played a much tougher slate this season, and a breakdown of their schedule reveals their they have played an offense-skewed collection of opponents. And that speaks even more highly of SDSU’s tenacious defense.

Peg the Owls as being over-reliant on 3s, and in this one they are up against an SDSU team that ranks 2nd in the nation in defending the perimeter (27.8%).

The Aztecs’ offensive rebounding has been stronger over recent weeks. They figure to get to the line more in this matchup, and they are worthy of a probability number of 60% or perhaps a click higher.

BACK SAN DIEGO STATE (-145).

Against the spread

SDSU has won 6 straight ATS. But peg the Moneyline offering slightly better value here. PASS, unless the price on -2.5 falls below -110.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Over/Under

This matchup features slow-tempo San Diego State and mid-paced FAU. Both teams have been quite efficient on defense. And this number reflects all of that. AVOID.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

March Madness: Miami vs. UConn odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Miami at UConn odds and lines, with expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

The 5th-seeded Miami Hurricanes (29-7) look to take down the 4-seed Connecticut Huskies (29-8) in the Final Four in Houston on Saturday at 8:49 p.m. (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Miami vs. UConn odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Miami, ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, will look to take down another ranked team in No. 12 UConn to reach its 1st National Championship game. The Hurricanes have used elite shooting in the tournament to make it this far.

After shooting 59% from the field against Houston in the Sweet 16, Miami turned around and overcame a 13-point deficit in the Elite 8 with a 52% performance against Texas. While Nigel Pack gets the most attention due to his NIL package, Jordan Miller was the player who led Miami back, scoring 27 points.

Miller became the 1st player since Duke’s Christian Laettner to score more than 25 points in a tournament game on 100% shooting; he was 7-for-7 from the field and 13-for-13 from the free throw line. He will need to repeat that performance against a UConn team that has been dominating this postseason.

The Huskies could become  the 1st team since the 2004 Huskies to get to the Final Four while winning all its games by 15 or more points and also win the National Championship. According to ESPN, UConn is the 1st team to make it to the Final Four while winning all its games by 15-plus points and winning its Sweet 16 game and its Elite 8 game by more than 20 points since the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats — a team which also won the title.

Dan Hurly’s team has been the best team in the tournament and have yet to have any missteps. This game could be the beginning of the coronation for UConn’s next championship.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]

Miami at UConn odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:23 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Miami +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | UConn -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Miami +5.5 (-110) | UConn -5.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Miami at UConn picks and predictions

Prediction

UConn 80, Miami 71

Moneyline

PASS.

UConn has been the best team in the tournament. Miami very well could be playing the 2nd-best. And while UConn is on a level of its own this postseason, -250 is simply too much to wager on a straight bet. So, it is just best to pass on this in favor of other plays.

Against the spread

BET UCONN -5.5 (-110).

UConn was ranked top 6 in the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking from the time it finished its 14-0 start through now. Even after losing 6 of 8 games, the talent UConn had only allowed the Huskies to drop from 1st to 6th, and they have now returned to No. 1 after their dominating effort in this tournament.

After winning all its games by at least 15 points, UConn will have a tougher time with Miami. But the game will still not be close, and the Huskies are likely to run away with yet another game on their way to the title game.

The Hurricanes have used elite shooting to stay in the tournament after almost being bounced in the 1st round by Drake. UConn has a tough defense and the depth to bring in wave after wave of top athletes. Miami will finally meet its match in Houston. Miami is the lowest ranked team in the NET ranks left in the tournament and it will show in this game.

The 5.5 points is not enough of a cushion and UConn will win another double-digit game as the lone elite team left.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Over/Under

BET OVER 149.5 (-108).

Miami has gone Over the total in all its games this tournament. UConn has gone Over the total in 2 of its 4 games.

Gonzaga was the top offensive team in the nation this season but were only able to put up 54 points against UConn. With the shooting ability Miami has shown, the Hurricanes will at least get to 65 and with the ability of UConn to score, this will make the game get to the Over.

Against 2 offensive teams in Iona and Gonzaga, UConn has averaged 84.5 points. It was also able to put up 88 points against a talented Arkansas team. While 80 points for the Huskies is a relative certainty, if Miami gets to 70 — and it has hit at least 85 in its last 3 games — this is an easy Over.  If you would rather make just a play on the spread, fine. But if making a wager on the total, the Over is the only way to play it.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Dominick Petrillo on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Sights and sounds from the women’s Final Four open practices

A look at the women’s Final Four open practices from Alex Sinatra.

Tickets for the women’s Final Four are more expensive than the men’s Final Four. It’s almost like when you give more television time and devotes more resources to something, it grows. Who would have thought?

The women’s Final Four is taking place in Dallas, Texas, at the American Airlines Center. The venue held open practices for each of the four teams competing this year and it was free to the public on March 30.

Gates Open 10:00 a.m.
Virginia Tech Open Practice 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
LSU Open Practice Noon – 12:50 p.m.
South Carolina Open Practice 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Iowa Open Practice 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

The Final Four takes place on March 31st, Division II and Division III national championships take place on Apr. 1, and the Division I national championship game takes place on Apr. 2.

For open practices, DJ Shawna was mixing the music and each team had a different musical vibe.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqUBEfnrsRi/

Virginia Tech was the first to practice and this is the first time they are on the big Final Four stage. They went into March Madness as a No. 1 seed and are the 2023 ACC Women’s Champions. They matchup against LSU on March 31 at 6:00 p.m. CT.

Next up was “Bayou Barbie”, Angel Reese, and the rest of the LSU Tigers. The fans went wild during the entirety of LSU’s practices. ISDs in and around Dallas-Fort Worth bused in students to watch the festivities and experience the overall atmosphere of a Final Four.

LSU is seeded No. 3 in the tournament, but are playing like a No. 1 seed. Their last win to cement their place in the Final Four was against Miami and Mulkey indicated they didn’t shoot well in that game but rebounding and defense helped them advance.

The next team was South Carolina and the immaculately dressed Dawn Staley.

Staley indicated during an on-court interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe that it takes a team of unselfish players to build this Gamecocks dynasty. She indicated for their team it takes “8-10 players to truly get those National Championships.”

Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes rounded out the open practices. Hawkeye fans were out in full force and made their presence known. Iowa takes on South Carolina on March 31 at 8:00 p.m. CT.

[lawrence-related id=7631]