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The Northwestern Wildcats (22-11) and UConn Huskies (32-3) meet Sunday in 2nd-round action in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from the Barclays Center is slated for 7:45 p.m. ET (truTV). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Northwestern vs. UConn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Northwestern bounced FAU in the 1st-round 77-65 in overtime, dismissing one of last season’s Final Four teams. Now, the Wildcats draw the defending champs.
Northwestern had won just once in 4 games prior to its slight upset of FAU in Round 1, cashing the Under (142.5) despite the extra session. The Under is 2-0 in the postseason for the Wildcats, while going 7-3 in the previous 10 outings.
The No. 1 overall seed UConn spanked 16-seed Stetson on Friday 91-52 as it covered as 27.5-point favorites. The Under (146) hung on, and is 3-1 in 4 postseason games for the Huskies. The total has also gone low in 5 of the past 6 games since March 6 at Marquette, allowing 60 or fewer points in 4 of the past 5 contests.
UConn has been hot against the number, too, going 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in 4 postseason outings, while going 7-1 ATS in the past 8 games, and 10-2 ATS across the previous 12 contests.
UConn was No. 1 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll of the regular season, while Northwestern was unranked.
Northwestern vs. UConn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:43 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Northwestern +800 (bet $100 to win $800) | UConn -1400 (bet $1,400 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Northwestern +14.5 (-115) | UConn -14.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 135.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Northwestern vs. UConn and predictions
Prediction
UConn 76, Northwestern 57
Moneyline
UConn (-1400) will set you back 14 times your potential return, and while it should go without saying, there is never a reason to bet such a heavy favorite, either straight up or as part of a parlay.
AVOID, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
UCONN -14.5 (-105) is an awfully big number, but it’s worth playing lightly.
Northwestern +14.5 (-115) took advantage of sloppy play by FAU in the opening game, particularly in the 1st half. The Wildcats coaxed the Owls into 21 turnovers, while Northwestern was a plus-6 in the rebounding department. That’s simply not going to happen against a well disciplined and experienced Huskies team.
The Wildcats might hang for the 1st half of the 1st 20 minutes, but look for the defending champs to pull away in the 2nd half, and perhaps flirt with a 20-point win before the dust settles.
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Over/Under
UNDER 135.5 (-105) is a low number, but the Huskies just don’t allow a lot of open looks.
The Wildcats were hitting a lot of circus shots, particularly in the 2nd half and into overtime against FAU, but Northwestern is going to struggle against the suffocating defense of UConn. And the Huskies aren’t going to give up nearly the same amount of open looks from the perimeter which Northwestern saw on Friday.
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