[mm-video type=video id=01gved089g4bg8hvxtj0 playlist_id=none player_id=01evcg1x9ny8tb834m image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gved089g4bg8hvxtj0/01gved089g4bg8hvxtj0-3dc54a5dbd48b9ec5483c0ce0eebf69e.jpg]
The 15th-seeded Vermont Catamounts (23-10) and No. 2 Marquette Golden Eagles (28-6) meet in an NCAA Tournament first-round game Friday. Tip time in the East Region tussle at Nationwide Arena in Columbus is slated for 2:45 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Vermont vs. Marquette odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Vermont swept the America East Conference regular-season and tournament titles. A solid midrange and 3-point shooting team, the Catamounts have logged a 51.3% mark from the floor in winning each of their last 15 games.
Marquette swept the Big East regular -season and tournament titles. The Golden Eagles are the No. 4 team in the nation, and that position has been solidified by MU going 14-1 against a tough slate since Jan. 18.
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports’ Men and Women’s Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $5,000 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3259″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3272″ ]
[betwidget_tipico]
Vermont vs. Marquette odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:47 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Vermont +425 (bet $100 to win $425) | Marquette -650 (bet $650 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Vermont +10.5 (-105) | Marquette -10.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Vermont vs. Marquette picks and predictions
Prediction
Marquette 76, Vermont 67
Moneyline
Look for Marquette to advance, but on this play the price on the Eagles is too steep and the leverage on the Catamounts too short. AVOID.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Against the spread
The Catamounts are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Golden Eagles are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
KenPom rates Vermont 113th nationally, and the Catamounts are on a solid trend line. Lets peg them between No. 85 St. John’s and No. 123 Butler. MU has played those 2 Big East foes a combined 4 times over the last 6 weeks. The results were a 1-3 ATS mark and an average winning margin of 7.0 points.
Under coach John Becker, Vermont gave 4th-seeded Arkansas everything it could handle in a 75-71 UA victory. The Catamounts led that game by 1 just inside the 10-minute mark.
The leverage here is useful but not overwhelming. Consider a partial-unit play on VERMONT +10.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The more talented Eagles are the faster team and should be able to push the pace at times against Vermont, a slowest-3rd squad. Figure on a decent number of triples, but other spiral factors like free-throw attempts and 2nd-chance buckets figure to be at below-average levels.
A mid-140s total seems likely. STEER CLEAR.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
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 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]