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The No. 16 seed Longwood Lancers (21-13) face the top-seeded Houston Cougars (30-4) Friday in a 1st-round game in the NCAA Tournament. Tip from FedExForum in Memphis is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Longwood vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
As the 5th-seed in the Big South Tournament, Longwood won 3 games and took down the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs 85-59 in the title game. They covered as a 3.5-point underdog and the Over (137.5) cashed. Longwood is led by the 2nd-team All-Big South G Wayne Napper, who averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4 rebounds per game. The Lancers were 16-15 against the spread (ATS), and just 4-2 ATS over their last 6 regular-season games; they went 3-0 ATS in the conference tourney.
The Cougars come into the NCAA Tournament with a bitter taste in their mouth after getting trounced by the Iowa State Cyclones 69-41 in the Big 12 Tournament title game. They lost as 5.5-point favorites and the Under (123.5) cashed. Houston is the best defensive team in the country allowing only 57 points per game. They also bring 1st-team All-American G Jamal Shead, who averaged 13.1 points, 6.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. Houston finished 16-16-2 ATS, including 2-3 ATS in their last 5 regular-season games.
Houston is No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Longwood vs. Houston odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 8:53 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Longwood +2400 (bet $100 to win $2,400) | Houston -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Longwood +23.5 (-110) | Houston -23.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 127.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Longwood vs. Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 81, Longwood 55
Moneyline
PASS.
You should obviously avoid betting Houston (-10000) as these odds are ridiculously high. That’s just not smart sports betting. Back the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
BET HOUSTON -23.5 (-110).
These are always the toughest games to handicap when you’ve got an obvious mismatch in talent level. Most everyone would expect Houston to wipe the floor with Longwood, but this Lancer team is tough which they showcased in the Big South Tournament.
The reason I’m taking the Cougars to cover the big number is because they have a huge chip on their shoulder after losing the way they did in the Big 12 Tournament. They are going to want to show the whole field that they’re here to stay for the long haul. That starts with a statement against Longwood in the 1st round.
Houston is 9-1 in their last 10 and covered the spread in 3 of their last 4.
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Over/Under
PASS.
I have never trusted betting totals when it comes to the Cougars. They play great defense which can be deceiving when it comes to the O/U. Oddsmakers play into that when they set the total this low, and I’m not going to buy into it. I’d rather just avoid it and keep my bet to the spread.
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