Category: March Madness

NIT: Cleveland State at Xavier odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Cleveland State at Xavier odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The No. 2 Xavier Musketeers (18-13) will take on the No. 7 Cleveland State Vikings (20-10) in the Upper Left bracket of the NIT first round. Tip-off from Cintas Center is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Cleveland State vs. Xavier odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Xavier likely would have been in the NCAA Tournament had it taken down Butler in its first Big East Tournament action. The Muskateers lost 89-82 in overtime despite being 6-point favorites and leading by 4 with under 30 seconds left to play.

The Musketeers rank 60th in Kenpom, having the 41st-best adjusted offensive efficiency. They ended the season covering just 1 of their last 7 games and with an overall against the spread (ATS) record of 14-17.

Kenpom has Cleveland State at 203rd, with the 168th-best offensive efficiency. The Vikings lost by 15 in the Horizon League Tournament to Wright State, a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, .

Cleveland State was just 13-15 ATS on the season. Its strong suit this year has been its shooting as CSU hit 48% of its field goal attempts, the 22nd-best percentage in the nation.

See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Cleveland State at Xavier odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Cleveland State +440 (bet $100 to win $440) | Xavier -650 (bet $650 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Cleveland State +11.5 (-110) | Xavier -11.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 145.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

[tipico]

Cleveland State at Xavier odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Xavier 79, Cleveland State 65

Money line

PASS.

Xavier is 2-8 over its last 10. However, those were all Big East games.

Nonetheless, it cannot be trusted, and the only playable side is Cleveland State +440. I’d rather play the points either way, especially since the Vikings are 5-6 on the road.

Against the spread

BET on XAVIER -11.5 (-110).

Xavier will be at home in this battle, a place it is 13-5 straight up on the season. Cleveland State is just 5-6 SU on the road and just 6-5 ATS on the road.

The Vikings didn’t play many Power 5 schools, so it’s tough to gauge how competitive they could be. They lost to Oklahoma State by 5 earlier in the year and lost to BYU by 10.

Xavier beat up on non-conference opponents, going a Big East-best 9-2 ATS in non-conference games, many of which were early-season beatdowns against mid-major opponents.

The real issue here will be size. Cleveland State’s 6-foot-9 F Deante Johnson is the only player that gets consistent minutes and stands over 6-foot-5. Xavier’s leading scorer is C Jack Nunge who stands 7-foot.

The Musketeers will dwarf the Vikings and should come out on top in a landslide victory.

Over/Under

PASS.

I don’t trust Cleveland State to score its average of 75.6, mainly due to the size of Nunge.

Also, Xavier was just 5-6 O/U against non-conference opponents. Cleveland State is 10-2 O/U in its last 12 games, but those have been against smaller Horizon League programs.

The Musketeers will have a major size advantage, and I’d prefer to play them to win by more than 11.

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

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Gonzaga vs Georgia State Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round

Gonzaga vs Georgia State prediction, NCAA Tournament First Round game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Thursday

Gonzaga vs Georgia State: NCAA Tournament First Round prediction and college basketball game preview.

Gonzaga vs Georgia State Game Preview, NCAA Tournament First Round How To Watch

Date: Thursday, March 17
Game Time: 4:15 pm
Venue: Moda Center, Portland, OR
How To Watch: TNT
Records: Gonzaga (1 seed, 26-3)
Georgia State (16 seed, 18-10)
Region: West

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– NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

March Madness: Final Four long shots worthy of NCAA Tournament futures bet

Assessing the NCAA Tournament futures betting odds, with the best long-shot predictions and picks to make the Final Four.

The “Big Dance” is finally here, and it’s time to dive into which teams could get hot and surprisingly make a Final Four run with the Round of 64 kicking off Thursday. Below, we look at 4 teams with decent value and their NCAA Tournament Final Four futures odds and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The last week of college basketball has been thrilling. With teams like Virginia Tech making runs to win its conference championship, fans have already been given a plethora of upsets.

However, nothing compares to that Cinderella story that may commence its run in just a few short days. Let’s dive into which teams have a chance to make their Final Four dreams a reality.

Final Four long-shot predictions

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, March 15 at 10:53 a.m. ET.

Virginia Tech Hokies (+2000)

  • Bet $100 to win $2,000

The No. 24 nationally-ranked Hokies are one of the hottest teams in the nation, and sometimes, that’s all you need.

As fans saw against Duke, the Hokies have versatile big men mixed with elite sharpshooters. Their Kenpom ranking is 23. The only higher double-digit seed is San Francisco.

Tech may actually have to go through San Fran to reach the final four, but its region has the bubble No. 1 seed and then a No. 2 seed that’s reluctant to shoot threes.

VT has an adjusted offensive efficiency that ranks 18th in the nation per Kenpom. If they stay hot, watch out. The Hokies will play No. 6-seeded Texas Longhorns in the Round of 64.

Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

[tipico]

North Carolina (+2000)

  • Bet $100 to win $2,000

North Carolina, like Tech, has defeated No. 2 Duke recently. UNC is the No. 8 seed in the same region — the East. The Tar Heels will have Marquette in the first round. UNC beat Duke and Virginia Tech late in the season.

One key for UNC is its size. Led by 6-foot-10 C Armando Bacot so it’ll be able to hang with teams like Kentucky in the paint and also a tandem of quick guards in Caleb Love and Leaky Black.

UNC is Kenpom’s 29th-best team with a top-65 offense and defense. It has the talent, size, and shooting to make a run.

South Dakota State (+10000)

  • Bet $100 to win $10,000

Sure, it was in the Summit, but SDSU won every single conference game (18-0) and then its conference tourney en route to a 30-4 record.

SDSU is a 13 seed and will take on No. 4-seeded Providence. Providence is favored by just 1.5 points which sounds absurd for a 4 vs. 13 seed.

SDSU comes in at No. 71 on the Kenpom rankings, and the impressive part about its game is that it sits No. 12 in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Jackrabbits are going to be able to score at a high rate.

F Douglas Wilson has averaged over 16 points per game for three straight seasons. He’s the real deal and has shot 57.4% from the floor for the season.

The road is difficult with Iowa, Providence, Kansas and Wisconsin or Auburn in the way, but the value here is impeccable for a team as dominant and experienced as SDSU.

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If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

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

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Iowa vs Richmond Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round

Iowa vs Richmond prediction, NCAA Tournament First Round game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Thursday

Iowa vs Richmond: NCAA Tournament First Round prediction and college basketball game preview.

Iowa vs Richmond Game Preview, NCAA Tournament First Round How To Watch

Date: Thursday, March 17
Game Time: 3:10 pm
Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
How To Watch: truTV
Records: Iowa (5 seed, 26-9)
Richmond (12 seed, 12-12)
Region: Midwest

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– NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

Tennessee vs Longwood Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round

Tennessee vs Longwood prediction, NCAA Tournament First Round game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Thursday

Tennessee vs Longwood: NCAA Tournament First Round prediction and college basketball game preview.

Tennessee vs Longwood Game Preview, NCAA Tournament First Round How To Watch

Date: Thursday, March 17
Game Time: 2:45 pm
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
How To Watch: CBS
Records: Tennessee (3 seed, 26-6)
Longwood (14 seed, 26-7)
Region: South

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– NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

March Madness: NCAA Tournament Midwest Region odds, picks and predictions

Looking at March Madness futures odds to win the Midwest Region in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The Kansas Jayhawks are at the head of the class in the Midwest Region. The top-seeded Jayhawks and 15 rivals will get going Thursday in a bracket that lays out as more top-heavy than the others as far as money-line pricing to win the Midwest and get to the Final Four.

Below, we look at the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region futures odds and and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Profitable betting angles for this region feature a mix of chalk and underdogs. And while Kansas is a terrific team, it is a bit overpriced in current futures wagering. The likable chalk picks do no include Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Midwest Region futures odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:10 a.m. ET.

1 seed: Kansas Jayhawks +162 (bet $100 to win $162)

2 seed: Auburn Tigers +220 (bet $100 to win $220)

3 seed: Wisconsin Badgers +900 (bet $100 to win $900)

4 seed: Providence Friars +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300)

5 seed: Iowa Hawkeyes +350 (bet $100 to win $350)

6 seed: LSU Tigers +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)

7 seed: USC Trojans +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

8 seed: San Diego State +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300)

9 seed: Creighton Bluejays +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

10 seed: Miami Hurricanes +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

11 seed: Iowa State Cyclones +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

12 seed: Richmond Spiders +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)

13 seed: South Dakota State Jackrabbits +6000 (bet $100 to win $6,000)

14 seed: Colgate Raiders +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000)

15 seed: Jacksonville State Gamecocks +10000  (bet $100 to win $10,000)

16 seed: Texas Southern +10000 or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi +10000

[tipico]

Midwest Region expert pick and prediction

Auburn Tigers (+220)

Auburn is coming off a clunker in the SEC title game, but the Tigers have played at a high level all season. AU has a decent path to the Elite Eight, and it will be defense that gets it there and beyond.

The Tigers have one of the best 2-point defenses in the nation. Auburn also plays at the quickest pace in this region, but is still takes care of the rock and sports a strong offensive rebounding game. That all makes for some value at the current tag.

Midwest Region contenders

Iowa Hawkeyes (+350)

The No. 3 seed is another fast team, but unlike Auburn is more of an offense-first squad. Iowa went on an impressive four-game run to win the Big Ten tourney. That the launch-a-lot Hawkeyes won despite shooting under 32% from 3-point range in two of those games speaks to how well they are performing in other areas.

Iowa’s defense has been a bit better of late, but the margins the team plays with because of turnover and rebounding plusses is where the Hawkeyes can make inroads in this bracket. Its play fast and make fewer mistakes than your opponent.

LSU Tigers (+1200)

Louisiana State hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2006, but head coach Will Wade took these Tigers to a regional semifinal in 2019. This team, like that one three years ago, excels on the offensive boards.

LSU is just 7-10 over its last 17 games, so detractors are not hard to find. But the way the young, athletic Tigers can pressure teams into mistakes, LSU can pull off an upset or two and get back to the Elite Eight. And maybe beyond.

Midwest Region long shot

San Diego State Aztecs (+1300)

The defensive slow-down game of the Aztecs is an outlier in this region. SDSU has grinded foes down to a 39.8% mark from the floor in going 11-2 since Feb. 6. And San Diego State defends just about every kind of shot on its side of the half-court logo. Opponents have found tough sledding in and around the paint, on mid-range jumpers, and from 3-point-land.

The road from the No. 8 slot is a bumpy one. The payoff is a just reward.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

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

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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Baylor vs Norfolk State Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round

Baylor vs Norfolk State prediction, NCAA Tournament First Round game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Thursday

Baylor vs Norfolk State: NCAA Tournament First Round prediction and college basketball game preview.

Baylor vs Norfolk State Game Preview, NCAA Tournament First Round How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, March 17
Game Time: 2:00 pm
Venue: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
How To Watch: TBS
Records: Baylor (1 seed, 26-6)
Norfolk State (16 seed, 24-6)
Region: East

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– NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

NCAA Tournament Expert Picks, Predictions: First Four, Final Four

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for the First Four games along with their Final Four picks

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for the First Four games along with their Final Four picks

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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.
Click on each game for the game preview and CFN Prediction

NCAA Tournament First Four, Final Four
TA&MCC vs Texas Southern | Indiana vs Wyoming
Bryant vs Wright State | Notre Dame vs Rutgers
Final Four Picks | NCAA Tournament Schedule

NCAA Tournament First Four
Texas Southern vs Texas A&M-Corpus Cristi

6:40, truTV
Line: Texas Southern -3.5, o/u: 136

Eric Bolin, RazorbacksWire.com: Texas Southern
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Texas Southern
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Texas A&M-CC
Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com: Texas Southern
Jeremy Mauss, MWwire.com: Texas A&M-CC
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN Texas Southern
Johnny Rosenstein, SportsBookWire.com: Texas Southern
Nick Shepkowski, FightingIrishWire.com: Teas A&M-CC
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners.com: Texas Southern
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Texas A&M-CC
CONSENSUS PICK: Texas Southern

NCAA Tournament First Four, Final Four
Indiana vs Wyoming | Bryant vs Wright State
Notre Dame vs Rutgers | Final Four Picks

NEXT: Indiana vs Wyoming Expert Picks, Predictions

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

March Madness: NCAA Tournament South Region odds, picks and predictions

Looking at March Madness futures odds to win the South Region in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The Big Dance officially gets underway Tuesday as two of the First Four matchups take place in Dayton, Ohio.

Below, we look at the NCAA Tournament South Region futures odds and and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The South Region’s first-four battle pits two 16 seeds (Bryant and Wright State) playing for the right to take on No. 1 Arizona. Villanova was given the No. 2 seed, followed by Wisconsin, Illinois and Houston.

Colgate, which sits at No. 14, is getting the most buzz as a team that could upset a top-five seed. Most seem to believe No. 11 Michigan is primed to down No. 6 Colorado State as well.

That said, let’s get into who could represent the region in the Final Four.

See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

South Region futures odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:15 p.m. ET.

1 seed: Arizona Wildcats +140 (bet $100 to win $140)

2 seed: Villanova Wildcats +330 (bet $100 to win $330)

3 seed: Tennessee Volunteers +400 (bet $100 to win $400)

4 seed: Illinois Fighting Illini +550 (bet $100 to win $550)

5 seed: Houston Cougars +750 (bet $100 to win $750)

6 seed: Colorado State Rams +4000 (bet $100 to win $4,000)

7 seed: Ohio State Buckeyes +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

8 seed: Seton Hall Pirates +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

9 seed: TCU Horned Frogs +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)

10 seed: Loyola Chicago Ramblers +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

11 seed: Michigan Wolverines +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)

12 seed: UAB Blazers +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)

13 seed: Chattanooga Mocs +7000 (bet $100 to win $7,000)

14 seed: Longwood Lancers +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)

15 seed: Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)

16 seed: Bryant Bulldogs / Wright State Raiders +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)

[tipico]

South Region expert pick and prediction

Tennessee Volunteers +400

Many are rightfully surprised that the Vols, who ran through the SEC Tournament, didn’t get even a two seed.

The Vols are led by freshman star G Kennedy Chandler, who averaged 13.8 points per game and stepped up his scoring in the SEC Tourney. The Vols defense is what will propel their Final Four aspirations.

Kenpom has them as the third-best defense in the NCAA. That was on full display in the SEC Tournament, and I expect that success to continue deeper into March.

South Region contenders

Arizona +140

Arizona is the favorite and deservedly so. They won the Pac-12 Tournament against a good UCLA team.

Tennessee did beat the Wildcats earlier in the season, but Arizona went 17-2 to end the season following that loss. G Bennedict Mathurin leads the Cats in scoring and is second in the Pac-12 with 17.4 points per game.

The Wildcats are that good and earned that top spot.

Houston Cougars +750

This region has not one, two or three, BUT four conference tournament winners.

Houston won the AAC over Memphis and the Cougars are Kenpom’s 4th-best team. They are one of two teams that sit top 12 in offensive and defensive efficiency (Gonzaga, the tournament’s top seed, is the other).

Houston lost to No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 6 Alabama by a combined 3 points earlier in the season as their two most-notable performances.

Villanova Wildcats +330

The fourth conference winner reigned supreme over the Big East.

Nova is the No. 2 seed and is certainly a contender. They wouldn’t be my pick as Nova has losses to Baylor, UCLA and Purdue among many others in conference play.

The Wildcats play at an ultra-slow pace and are led by fifth-year G Collin Gillespie who is averaging 15.9 points per game. Nova is just one of a handful of teams ranked top 30 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

South Region long shot

Ohio State Buckeyes +2000

Ohio State is being picked as a popular upset team because people love Sister Jean and the Loyola Ramblers. However, Ohio State has been banged up and should get key versatile F Kyle Young back.

G Malaki Branham has scored 15 or more in 7 of his last 8 games. Star F E.J. Liddell sits third in the Big Ten in scoring at 19.6 per game and Young’s likely return should help them defensively.

OSU has wins over No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 4 Illinois on its resume. The Buckeyes have a high ceiling and could be a good longshot to make the Final Four.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

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

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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March Madness: NCAA Tournament West Region odds, picks and predictions

Looking at March Madness futures odds to win the West Region in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The Big Dance is almost underway. It is just days until the Round of 64 tips, and it’s primed to be an exciting few weeks with the West potentially being the most difficult of the four regions.

Below, we look at the NCAA Tournament West Region futures odds and and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The West will kick off Tuesday with Rutgers against Notre Dame, a matchup of two 11 seeds in which Notre Dame is a slight favorite. The winner will take on Alabama, the region’s No. 6 seed.

Gonzaga leads the region with Duke at No. 2 and Texas Tech at No. 3. No. 12 New Mexico State and No. 13 Vermont are teams to keep an eye on as well.

See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

West Region futures odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 8:34  p.m. ET.

1 seed: Gonzaga Bulldogs -200 (bet $200 to win $100)

2 seed: Duke Blue Devils +380 (bet $100 to win $380)

3 seed: Texas Tech Red Raiders +550 (bet $100 to win $550)

4 seed: Arkansas Razorbacks +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)

5 seed: Connecticut Huskies +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)

6 seed: Alabama Crimson Tide +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

7 seed: Michigan State Spartans +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)

8 seed: Boise State Broncos +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)

9 seed: Memphis Tigers +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

10 seed: Davidson Wildcats +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)

11 seed: Rutgers Scarlet Knights / Notre Dame Fighting Irish +4000 (bet $100 to win $4,000)

12 seed: New Mexico State Aggies +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000)

13 seed: Vermont Catamounts +7000 (bet $100 to win $7,000)

14 seed: Montana State Bobcats +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)

15 seed: Cal State Fullerton Titans +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)

16 seed: Georgia State Panthers +10000  (bet $100 to win $10,000)

[tipico]

West Region expert pick and prediction

Texas Tech Red Raiders +550

While we obviously aren’t playing a game-specific spread, the Red Raiders were a Big 12-best 9-2 against the spread (ATS) against ranked opponents. They are a physical bunch and play good teams close.

Kenpom has them ranked as the 9th-best team in the nation with the No. 1 adjusted defensive efficiency. They also have a top-20 strength of schedule, so this team is tested.

Tech held Big 12 opponents to a conference-low 39% from the field. Tech beat No. 1 Baylor twice and No. 1 Kansas once. The resume speaks for itself, and it should be able to defeat Duke and Gonzaga to reach the Final Four.

This value is the best in the region.

West Region contenders

Gonzaga Bulldogs (-200)

Gonzaga is the No. 1 team in the nation, and there’s no reason to doubt the Bulldogs’ potential success. They rank first in Kenpom’s offensive efficiency and 7th in defensive efficiency.

They are a very good team with veteran leadership in C Drew Timme. However, at -200, I wouldn’t play this value; nonetheless, they’re the region’s top contender.

Duke Blue Devils (+380)

Duke is one of 3 teams in the nation to have beaten Gonzaga. That was earlier in the season and the Blue Devils are coming off a demoralizing loss to Virginia Tech.

With Coach K’s last tournament soon to commence, the Blue Devils will go as far as F Paolo Banchero will take them.

Players like C Mark Williams and F A.J. Griffin have been too inconsistent. Duke has value here, but having to get through Tech and Gonzaga is relatively unlikely.

Arkansas Razorbacks (+1200)

Sometimes, all you need is your best player to get hot, and Arkansas may have the best player in the region with G JD Notae.

Notae ranked second in the SEC scoring 18.4 points per game. There should be concerns about his usage as the Razorbacks were destroyed in the SEC semifinals by Texas A&M and Notae had just 5 points.

He has to get hot and stay on fire for 18th-ranked Arkansas to have a chance. Nonetheless, there is a chance that happens and at +1200, it gives decent value.

I’d look to play a top-three seed or look further down in the seeding though.

West Region long shots

Michigan State Spartans (+3000)

Michigan State comes alive in March. Legendary coach Tom Izzo knows how to prepare his team, and whoever lines the court will give the Spartans a chance to succeed.

The Spartans will take on the Davidson Wildcats in the Round of 64. Then, they get the Duke Blue Devils.

The Spartans have wins over No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 3 Purdue, No. 7 Ohio State (who beat Duke earlier in the season), and No. 5 UConn. The resume is there, and if they get hot, watch out.

Vermont Catamounts (+7000)

Vermont is going to take on Arkansas in the first round. The Catamounts beat UMBC, the No. 2 seed in the America East Conference tournament, by 29. They were 28-5 on the season.

Vermont has a top 75 offense and defense per Kenpom.

Vermont’s main issue will be its size. It has just 1 player over 6-foot-8 and none over 6-foot-10. It does, however, have experience with 2 seniors averaging over 16 points per game.

It has been great all season, and making the Sweet 16 is not crazy for a team as talented as Vermont. It’s March, and it’s a skilled program. Anything can happen.

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