Furman Paladins vs. Virginia Cavaliers odds predictions pick betting line spread

March Madness: Furman vs. Virginia odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Furman vs. Virginia odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The 13-seed Furman Paladins (27-7) face the 4-seed Virginia Cavaliers (25-7) Thursday in a 1st Round South Region game in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from Amway Center in Orlando is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET (truTV). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Furman vs. Virginia odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The Paladins won the Southern Conference tournament title with a solid 88-79 victory over Chattanooga on March 6. Furman has won 6 straight games and is 14-5 against the spread (ATS) across its last 19 games overall.

Furman played 2 teams in the NCAA Tournament field this season — NC State and Penn State — losing and failing to cover either matchup. The loss to the Wolfpack, its only ACC opponent, came by 19 points on Dec. 13 in Raleigh.

The Cavaliers came up short in the ACC Tournament championship game against Duke on Saturday (59-49). The Hoos are just 4-3 straight-up (SU) across the past 7 games and 2-6-1 ATS across the past 9 games.

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Virginia is 4-4 SU and ATS in 8 games against teams in the NCAA Tournament field, including a victory over 3-seed Baylor.

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Furman vs. Virginia odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Furman +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Virginia -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Furman +5.5 (-115) | Virginia -5.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Furman vs. Virginia picks and predictions

Prediction

Virginia 70, Furman 61

Moneyline

Virginia (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just too much risk for not enough reward.

PASS.

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Against the spread

VIRGINIA -5.5 (-110) is the play. Furman is the sexy pick based on its impressive ATS record this season, but who has it really played? In 2 games against NCAA Tournament teams, the Paladins are 0-2 SU/ATS, losing by an average margin of 12.0 PPG.

It will also be in the back of everyone’s mind that UVA is the only team to lose to a 16-seed in the men’s tournament, so right or wrong, people tend to doubt the Cavaliers. However, this is a good team — especially defensively — and Virginia will hold down a Furman team that has rolled up big numbers in the SoCon.

Don’t think too much and be too fancy with the upsets. Furman has played nobody, and it isn’t on the same level as Virginia.

Over/Under

UNDER 132.5 (-108) is the lean, but tread lightly.

Furman has put up 79 or more points in 9 of its last 11 games, but it hasn’t faced a lockdown and frustrating defense like Virginia.

The Under is 8-2 in the past 10 neutral-site games for the Hoos and is 5-2 in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

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March Madness first-round, can’t-miss parlay: Bank on this Thursday 3-teamer

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Thursday’s first round, with predictions and picks for the best parlay bet to make.

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It is the best time of year with March Madness finally upon us and the first round on Thursday should have some exciting basketball.

After looking at the Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines, here is a Thursday’s can’t-miss, first-round parlay among our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

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NCAA Tournament first-round parlay

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:36 a.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

Leg 1: FURMAN ML (+180) vs. Virginia – 12:40 p.m.

The Paladins have the perfect offensive scheme to bounce the No. 4 Cavaliers, and at this price, the odds will boost a parlay. Virginia was bounced from the ACC Tournament after scoring just 49 points against Duke. Its offense has been a problem all season long, and it has relied on its defensive tenacity.

Furman has the offensive firepower to give them issues. It ranks 8th in the nation at 82.1 points per game, 10th in 3-point attempts (27.3 PG) and 18th in 3-pointers made (9.4 PG). That style could be the perfect storm for an upset here, and in a parlay, it would be a huge win.

Leg 2: Charleston vs. San Diego State OVER 141.5 (-112) — 3:10 p.m.

The mid-major 3-point onslaught may continue here. Charleston ranks 9th in 3-pointers made per game (10). It went Over in 7 of its last 10 games to close out the regular season. The Cougars average 80.8 points per game to rank 14th in the nation in scoring.

While San Diego State has an aggressive defense, it averages 71.3 points per game, so it can score as well. SDSU was 7-4 O/U in non-conference games this season. Back the Over in your parlay.

Leg 3: Boise State vs. NORTHWESTERN ML (-125) — 7:35 p.m.

Northwestern is a far more tested side than Boise State. It has wins over tournament teams like No. 1-seed Purdue, 4-seed Indiana and 8-seed Iowa. It also won 3 of its last 5 Big Ten road games which is impressive.

Boise State’s non-conference schedule didn’t do it much favors, beating Texas A&M on Dec. 3. It split with SDSU, losing on the road by 20 and winning at home by 6. The Broncos also lost 3 of their last 4 road games to end the regular season. Back the more proven side in this parlay.

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $85.40 (ticket pays $95.40).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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March Madness: Thursday’s best NCAA Tournament first-round upset picks and predictions

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Thursday’s first round, with predictions and picks for the 4 best underdog bets.

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It is time. March Madness is here, and couple that along with the legalization of sports gambling in many states for their 1st NCAA Tournament, betting will be more prevalent than ever.

Below, we break down Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines and list Thursday’s best first-round upset bets to cash in on among SportbookWire’s expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The Thursday slate includes a pair of No. 1 seeds — the Kansas Jayhawks and Houston Cougars — taking the court.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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Thursday’s NCAA Tournament upset picks

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:01 a.m. ET. All game times ET.

CHARLESTON +5.5 (-115) vs. San Diego State – 3:10 p.m.

San Diego State thrived in the Mountain West, but against competitive teams earlier in the season, it didn’t do so well, losing by 17 to Arizona and 4 to Arkansas. The Aztecs also score via a number of players with 6 averaging more than 7 points per game.

The 28-3 Cougars are more top heavy with 2 players averaging 15 or more and 2 topping 12. The depth may not be there, but the scoring is, especially at a high percentage with their top playmakers hitting over 43% of their shots.

Charleston beat Virginia Tech, Davidson and Richmond in the early part of the season. It should compete and at least cover. Taking the 5.5 points is a smart play.

FURMAN +5.5 (-115) vs. Virginia – 12:40 p.m.

Furman ranks 8th in the nation in scoring, 21st in field goal percentage and 10th in 3-point FG attempts per game. It is going to run and gun, and the Cavaliers play the exact opposite style, sitting 280th in 3-point field goal attempts per game.

In March, being able to score, especially for these underdogs, is paramount, and Furman can do that. Virginia lost to high-octane offenses like North Carolina, Miami and Houston during the regular season. Expect it to struggle so back the dog here.

PENN STATE +2.5 (-102) vs. Texas A&M – 9:55 p.m.

The Nittany Lions have a potent offense, and they made their presence felt in the Big Ten Tournament, reaching the final and almost beating the No. 1 seed Purdue Boilermakers.

Penn State has covered 4 straight games and should be able to hold its own here. It took down tourney teams Indiana, Northwestern and Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament. Texas A&M, on the other hand, ended its tournament with a 19-point loss to No. 1 Alabama.

The Nittany Lions also rank 9th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (38.5%). It can hang with anyone with that on its side, and I would back it to cover here.

MISSOURI +1.5 (-108) vs. Utah State – 1:40 p.m.

No. 10 Utah State is favored over No. 7 Missouri. The Aggies don’t have many quality wins on the season. They didn’t have a great non-conference schedule and went 1-3 to San Diego State and Boise State this season.

Missouri, on the other hand, has wins over No. 4 Tennessee, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 9 Illinois, No. 6 Iowa State and many others. It also beat SEMO, which made the tournament. Ultimately, considering the schedule and the odds, back Missouri to beat Utah State as a slight underdog.

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

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and 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:

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