Announcement

**Udog** · 03-15-2016, 09:13 PM

Ill update these reports as more information is made available.

**Udog** · 03-15-2016, 09:14 PM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Thursday, March 17

Buffalo @ Miami (Fla.)

Game 717-718
March 17, 2016 @ 6:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Buffalo
54.502
Miami (Fla.)
70.150
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami (Fla.)
by 15 1/2
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami (Fla.)
by 13 1/2
148 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Miami (Fla.)
(-13 1/2); Under

Wichita State @ Arizona

Game 719-720
March 17, 2016 @ 9:20 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Wichita State
70.004
Arizona
74.188
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 4
132
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arizona
by 1 1/2
136 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(-1 1/2); Under

Austin Peay @ Kansas

Game 733-734
March 17, 2016 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Austin Peay
50.395
Kansas
78.901
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas
by 28 1/2
146
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas
by 25 1/2
152
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas
(-25 1/2); Under

Yale @ Baylor

Game 721-722
March 17, 2016 @ 2:45 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Yale
66.276
Baylor
68.772
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baylor
by 2 1/2
143
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baylor
by 5 1/2
136 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Yale
(+5 1/2); Over

Connecticut @ Colorado

Game 735-736
March 17, 2016 @ 1:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
68.890
Colorado
63.589
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Connecticut
by 5 1/2
132
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Connecticut
by 3
136 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Connecticut
(-3); Under

NC-Wilmington @ Duke

Game 723-724
March 17, 2016 @ 12:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NC-Wilmington
59.633
Duke
67.482
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Duke
by 8
162
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Duke
by 10 1/2
156 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NC-Wilmington
(+10 1/2); Over

Chattanooga @ Indiana

Game 737-738
March 17, 2016 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chattanooga
57.333
Indiana
66.707
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 9 1/2
151
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Indiana
by 12
145
Dunkel Pick:
Chattanooga
(+12); Over

Florida State @ Valparaiso

Game 749-750
March 17, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida State
61.411
Valparaiso
66.887
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Valparaiso
by 5 1/2
139
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Valparaiso
by 4
146 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Valparaiso
(-4); Under

Stony Brook @ Kentucky

Game 739-740
March 17, 2016 @ 9:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Stony Brook
60.263
Kentucky
70.773
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kentucky
by 10 1/2
149
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kentucky
by 14 1/2
143
Dunkel Pick:
Stony Brook
(+14 1/2); Over

Jackson State @ Grand Canyon

Game 761-762
March 17, 2016 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Jackson State
43.525
Grand Canyon
56.606
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Grand Canyon
by 13
135
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Grand Canyon
by 10
142
Dunkel Pick:
Grand Canyon
(-10); Under

Arkansas-Little Rock @ Purdue

Game 741-742
March 17, 2016 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arkansas-Little R
64.105
Purdue
70.620
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Purdue
by 6 1/2
137
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Purdue
by 9
130 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Arkansas-Little R
(+9); Over

Iona @ Iowa State

Game 743-744
March 17, 2016 @ 2:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Iona
62.170
Iowa State
67.337
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Iowa State
by 5
170
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Iowa State
by 8
166 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Iona
(+8); Over

Florida Gulf Coast @ North Carolina

Game 725-726
March 17, 2016 @ 7:20 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida Gulf Coas
51.758
North Carolina
77.200
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
North Carolina
by 25 1/2
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
North Carolina
by 21 1/2
148
Dunkel Pick:
North Carolina
(-21 1/2); Under

Fresno State @ Utah

Game 745-746
March 17, 2016 @ 7:25 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Fresno State
57.975
Utah
69.492
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 11 1/2
136
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 9
143
Dunkel Pick:
Utah
(-9); Under

Providence @ Southern California

Game 727-728
March 17, 2016 @ 9:50 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Providence
66.962
Southern Californ
62.255
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Providence
by 4 1/2
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Providence
by 2
149 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Providence
(-2); Under

Gonzaga @ Seton Hall

Game 747-748
March 17, 2016 @ 9:55 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Gonzaga
71.173
Seton Hall
67.166
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Gonzaga
by 4
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Gonzaga
by 1
145 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Gonzaga
(-1); Under

Hampton @ Virginia

Game 729-730
March 17, 2016 @ 3:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Hampton
50.021
Virginia
70.551
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Virginia
by 20 1/2
137
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Virginia
by 24
131
Dunkel Pick:
Hampton
(+24); Over

Butler @ Texas Tech

Game 731-732
March 17, 2016 @ 12:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Butler
67.223
Texas Tech
65.058
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Butler
by 2
152
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Butler
by 4 1/2
147
Dunkel Pick:
Texas Tech
(+4 1/2); Over

**Udog** · 03-15-2016, 09:15 PM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Thursday, March 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUFFALO (20 - 14) vs. MIAMI (25 - 7) - 3/17/2016, 6:50 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 105-74 ATS (+23.6 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.
MIAMI is 28-11 ATS (+15.9 Units) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games since 1997.
MIAMI is 130-94 ATS (+26.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
MIAMI is 51-32 ATS (+15.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
MIAMI is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
BUFFALO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WICHITA ST (25 - 8) vs. ARIZONA (25 - 8) - 3/17/2016, 9:20 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YALE (22 - 6) vs. BAYLOR (22 - 11) - 3/17/2016, 2:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BAYLOR is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games after a conference game this season.
YALE is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
YALE is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
YALE is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.
YALE is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) after a conference game this season.
YALE is 57-35 ATS (+18.5 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1997.
YALE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in road games off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
YALE is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games after allowing 60 points or less over the last 3 seasons.
YALE is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UNC-WILMINGTON (25 - 7) vs. DUKE (23 - 10) - 3/17/2016, 12:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 59-33 ATS (+22.7 Units) after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
DUKE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in a NCAA tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 35-24 ATS (+8.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
UNC-WILMINGTON is 37-21 ATS (+13.9 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
UNC-WILMINGTON is 37-21 ATS (+13.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
UNC-WILMINGTON is 38-17 ATS (+19.3 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
UNC-WILMINGTON is 153-117 ATS (+24.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
UNC-WILMINGTON is 96-62 ATS (+27.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
DUKE is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
DUKE is 54-81 ATS (-35.1 Units) in March games since 1997.
DUKE is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLA GULF COAST (21 - 13) vs. N CAROLINA (28 - 6) - 3/17/2016, 7:20 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROVIDENCE (23 - 10) vs. USC (21 - 12) - 3/17/2016, 9:50 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PROVIDENCE is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games in March games over the last 3 seasons.
PROVIDENCE is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
PROVIDENCE is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAMPTON (21 - 10) vs. VIRGINIA (26 - 7) - 3/17/2016, 3:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA is 46-30 ATS (+13.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 31-17 ATS (+12.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.
HAMPTON is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HAMPTON is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 31-50 ATS (-24.0 Units) in road games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
VIRGINIA is 1-0 straight up against HAMPTON over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUTLER (21 - 10) vs. TEXAS TECH (19 - 12) - 3/17/2016, 12:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUTLER is 65-33 ATS (+28.7 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
BUTLER is 51-31 ATS (+16.9 Units) in March games since 1997.
BUTLER is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games when playing with 5 or 6 days rest since 1997.
BUTLER is 65-33 ATS (+28.7 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
BUTLER is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
BUTLER is 78-54 ATS (+18.6 Units) after scoring 60 points or less since 1997.
BUTLER is 70-41 ATS (+24.9 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
BUTLER is 17-4 ATS (+12.6 Units) in first round tournament games since 1997.
BUTLER is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) in a NCAA tournament games since 1997.
BUTLER is 195-156 ATS (+23.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 127-171 ATS (-61.1 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 75-106 ATS (-41.6 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 40-60 ATS (-26.0 Units) in road games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTIN PEAY (18 - 17) vs. KANSAS (30 - 4) - 3/17/2016, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all games this season.
KANSAS is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
KANSAS is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
KANSAS is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
AUSTIN PEAY is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 3 seasons.
AUSTIN PEAY is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 3 seasons.
AUSTIN PEAY is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in all tournament games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONNECTICUT (24 - 10) vs. COLORADO (22 - 11) - 3/17/2016, 1:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in a NCAA tournament games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UT-CHATTANOOGA (29 - 5) vs. INDIANA (25 - 7) - 3/17/2016, 7:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UT-CHATTANOOGA is 35-54 ATS (-24.4 Units) in road games off a win against a conference rival since 1997.
UT-CHATTANOOGA is 14-29 ATS (-17.9 Units) in road games in all tournament games since 1997.
UT-CHATTANOOGA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STONY BROOK (26 - 6) vs. KENTUCKY (26 - 8) - 3/17/2016, 9:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENTUCKY is 82-55 ATS (+21.5 Units) in March games since 1997.
KENTUCKY is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
KENTUCKY is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARK-LITTLE ROCK (29 - 4) vs. PURDUE (26 - 8) - 3/17/2016, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PURDUE is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 29-17 ATS (+10.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in all games this season.
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in all lined games this season.
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IONA (22 - 10) vs. IOWA ST (21 - 11) - 3/17/2016, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
IONA is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
IONA is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
IOWA ST is 51-29 ATS (+19.1 Units) in March games since 1997.
IOWA ST is 225-175 ATS (+32.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
IONA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in road games after a conference game this season.
IONA is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games off a win against a conference rival this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRESNO ST (25 - 9) vs. UTAH (26 - 8) - 3/17/2016, 7:25 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FRESNO ST is 70-96 ATS (-35.6 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1997.
UTAH is 55-35 ATS (+16.5 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 55-35 ATS (+16.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 41-24 ATS (+14.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
FRESNO ST is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) after a conference game this season.
FRESNO ST is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 1-0 against the spread versus FRESNO ST over the last 3 seasons
UTAH is 1-0 straight up against FRESNO ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GONZAGA (26 - 7) vs. SETON HALL (25 - 8) - 3/17/2016, 9:55 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SETON HALL is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) in all games this season.
SETON HALL is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) in all lined games this season.
SETON HALL is 14-6 ATS (+7.4 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season.
SETON HALL is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
SETON HALL is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) after a conference game this season.
SETON HALL is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
SETON HALL is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SETON HALL is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
SETON HALL is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
GONZAGA is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) against Big East conference opponents since 1997.
GONZAGA is 69-47 ATS (+17.3 Units) in road games in all tournament games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JACKSON ST (20 - 15) at GRAND CANYON (26 - 6) - 3/17/2016, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 03-15-2016, 09:15 PM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, March 17

Thursday's games
afternoon games
Since 2003, Duke is 5-8 vs spread in first round games; they are lower than a 3-seed for first time since '07, when they lost in first round to VCU as 6-seed. Duke's subs play 7th-least minutes in country; longer TV timeouts will help, but UNCW is pressing team with lot of depth. Seahawks are 16-2 in last 18 games; they haven't played in 10 days- Duke played Friday. Wilmington is a young team, but five pf seven guys in Duke rotation are frosh/sophs. ACC teams are 5-3 vs CAA teams this year, 3-5 vs spread. #4 seeds in the West are 3-12 vs spread in 1st round the last 16 years.

Since 2003, underdogs are 31-21 vs spread in 8-9 first round games. Butler is 4-0 in last four first round games, dating back to their days in Horizon League. Bulldogs went 11-1 in pre-conference schedule (#279), went 7-3 last 10 games but lost to Providence in first round of Big East tourney- they're only team to beat Seton Hall since Jan 23 (beat Pirates twice). Texas Tech is in NCAAs for first time since '07; Tubby Smith is 7-2 in last nine first round games, but he was 1-2 at Minnesota, 6-0 at Kentucky. Big East teams are just 9-9 SU in first round last three years; Big X teams are 8-10.

UConn is 17-2 in last 19 first round games; they won in OT vs St Joe's in first round in '14, when they won national title. Huskies came off deck Friday, won in 4OTs, won AAC tourney. UConn are #5 eFG% defense in country, #1 foul shooting team, but they also finished 6th in 11-team AAC; Colorado is in for 4th time in five years- they went 1-2 in first round those years. Buffs are 1-6 in last seven games away from Boulder. Since 2003, underdogs are 31-21 vs spread in 8-9 first round games. AAC teams are 2-3 vs Pac-12 teams this year; Colorado lost 70-66 to AAC kingpin SMU in December in Las Vegas.

Selection committee did Yale a favor, putting game in Providence, 100 miles from New Haven campus; Yale is in tourney for first time since 1962- they're going to have lot of fans there. Baylor is 5-7 in last 12 games- their last four losses were to Top 10 teams. Bears are 3-2 in last five first round games; they got upset as a 3-seed by Georgia State LY. Baylor is 10-2 out of conference, losing to Oregon/Texas A&M. Ivy League teams are 3-3 SU in first round last six years, after losing six in row before that; Big X teams are 3-0 vs Ivy teams this year, winning by 10-6-12 points.

Hampton is 0-4 vs top 100 teams, losing by 19-33-42-30 points. Virginia beat Pirates 69-40 at home three years ago; game was 40-19 at half. Cavaliers lost in ACC tourney final Saturday; they're 13-3 in last 16 games, won 11 of 12 out of conference, beating MEAC's Morgan State by 38 in opener. Last three years, underdogs are 8-4 vs spread in 1-16 games, as 1-seeds tend to look ahead to secnd round games. Since '09, MEAC teams are 2-5 vs spread in non-play-in games; Hampton won play-in game LY, then lost to Kentucky by 23, so they shouldn't be in awe. Playing team from same state isn't a bad thing.

Austin Peay finished 7-9 in OVC but won last six games, are here for first time since 2008; Governors lost by 39-26 in only two top 100 games, vs Vandy and Indiana. OVC teams are 8-3 vs spread in first round game last 11 years-- this isn't best OVC team, though. Kansas is 2-5 vs spread in 1st round last seven years- they will have ton of pressure on them Saturday, having lost in second round last two years, to Stanford/Wichita- this is 7th year in a row Jayhawks are 1 or 2-seed and they've KO'd on first weekend three times. Austin Peay is turning ball over 20.4% of time, playing against schedule #230.

Last seven years, underdogs are 18-10 vs spread in 5-12 games. Little Rock is 29-4, a deep team with wins at San Diego St, Tulsa; they're #13 in experience- bench is #44 in minutes played- this is their first NCAA in eight years, when they lost play-in game. Trojans play 7th-slowest tempo in country; they're not a big team and Purdue is a top 25 rebounding team. Since '07, Sun Belt teams are 6-3 vs spread in this round. Not sure if it is relevant; since 1994, #12 seed in Midwest is 17-5 vs spread in 1st round. Boilers don't force lot of turnovers; they've got #6 eFG% defense, have won five of last six games overall.

Buffalo lost 68-62 to West Virginia in this round LY; game was tied with 2:42 left; Bulls have new coach now, won six of last eight games- they're 1-7 vs top 100 teams, with only win in MAC title game over Akron- they play #25 tempo Miami is #23 in experience but is in NCAAs for first time in three years; 'canes lost two of last three games- they're 7-1 vs teams outside top 100- this is first game vs team outside top 100 since January 23, vs Wake Forest. Underdogs are 8-4 vs spread in 3-14 games last three years. ACC teams are 4-0 vs MAC teams this year, winning by 9-9-23-33 points (2-2 vs spread).

night games
Southern Conference teams haven't won NCAA game since Steph Curry was at Davidson, but since '03, they're 9-3-1 vs spread in this round. Chattanooga is 42-10 in SoCon last three years but is in NCAAs for first time since '09 with rookie coach. Mocs beat Georgia/Dayton/Illinois by total of 8 points back in fall- they're #17 in experience. Indiana makes 41.5% on arc, has senior PG and is #2 eFG% offense in country, but they did lose first conference tourney tilt, often a red flag. Chattanooga forces turnovers 20.3% of time, #53 in country. Last seven years, underdogs are 18-10 against the spread in 5-12 games.

North Carolina won its last 13 first round games, last two by hoop each; they are 1-4 vs spread in last five first round games. This is first time they're a 1-seed since '12, when they made Elite 8- their last Final Four was '09. UNC is 21-4 in last 25 games, with all four losses to top 40 teams. Last three years, underdogs are 8-4 vs spread in 1-16 games.

Fresno State has an experienced backcourt but won Mountain West tourney in very down year for league; Bulldogs are in NCAAs for first time since 2001, they lost by 5 at Oregon, 13 at Arizona last fall. Utah won nine of last 10 tilts; they beat San Diego State by 5 in its only MW game. Utes made Sweet 16 LY; they're 8-1 vs teams ranked outside top 100. Fresno is #19 in experience; they start three senior guards, but Poeltl is going to kill their inside guys. Pac-12 teams are 13-3 vs Mountain West this year, 8-8 vs spread (8-5 as favorites). Underdogs are 8-4 against the spread in 3-14 games last three years.

Arizona is #6 seed in South; last six years, #6-seed in South is 1-5 with three one-point losses in this round. Wildcats are 4-0 in first round games under Miller (1-3 vs spread); they split their last six games, with five of them decided by 6 or less points. Since 2009, Pac-12 teams are 23-6 in this round.

Kentucky is 5-0 in first round under Calipari (2-3 vs spread); they made Final Four last four times they were in tournament. Wildcats opened season with a 78-65 win over Albany, one of Stony Brook's rivals in America East. Stony Brook is in NCAAs for first time; they had 18-game win streak during season. Seawolves lost at Vandy in OT, by 25 at Notre Dame- they're #24 experience team in country. America East teams covered four of last five non-play-in games. Last 10 years, favorites are 23-17 vs spread in 4-13 first round games. Kentucky has to guard against looking ahead to Indiana in second round.

Since 2009, Pac-12 teams are 23-6 in this round. USC lost seven of its last ten games overall, Providence won four of its last five. USC is 3-7 vs top 50 teams this season- this is their first NCAA since 2011, but Enfield was in Sweet 16 three years ago with Florida Gulf Coast, beating Georgetown in 1st round. Providence has two really good players, Dunn/Bentil; they beat Arizona of Pac-12 in November and made NCAAs last two years, but lost in first round both times. Big East teams are just 9-9 in this round last three years. Since 2003, underdogs are 31-21 vs spread in 8-9 first round games. Weird game; chances are no seniors will play for either team.

Gonzaga is in only because they won WCC tourney- they haven't been on court in 11 days, but also won last seven first round games, winning as 7, 8 (twice) and 11-seeds, so they've been in this boat before. Seton Hall is in NCAAs for first time in 10 years; they won eight of last nine games, winning Big East tourney for first time since 1993. Pirates start five sophs, don't play many subs. Hall played Saturday night. Big East teams are just 9-9 in this round last three years. Gonzaga scored 88.3 in winning the WCC tourney. Last four years, faves are 11-4-1 vs spread in 6-11 games. Zags start two seniors, have slight edge in experience, big edge in height inside.

MAAC teams are 0-7 in first round (0-7 vs spread) since Siena beat Ohio State in an 8-9 game in '09; Iona lost by 25-16 points its last two times in this round. Gaels are 12-1 in last 13 games, but 2-7 vs top 100 teams, with two wins vs Monmouth. Iowa State is #4 in experience; their bench plays 5th-least minutes in country. Cyclones got upset in first round as 3-seed LY, after making Sweet 16 the year before. ISU beat Chattanooga by 20 in November, a team with similar profile to Iona. Last 10 years, favorites are 23-17 vs spread in 4-13 first round games. Two thin teams who like to run playing in Denver; total was posted at 166.

We'll do what we can with these minor tournaments; impossible to determine how interested players on these teams will be........

NIT
Valparaiso is 17-3 in its last 20 games; winning last three home games by 4-11-16 games. Crusaders used three starters 31:00+ in Tuesday's 84-73 win over Texas Southern. Valpo has #8 eFG% defense in US. Florida St used only two guys more than 28:00 in 84-74 win over Davidson in its first NIT game; Seminoles are 11-2 outside the ACC, losing to Hofstra by 5, Iowa by 3 in OT.

CBI
none

CIT
Grand Canyon won its last four home games since 59-57 loss to Seattle Jan 30; Antelopes held on Monday for 78-74 win over South Carolina State in its first CIT game- they used three starters 30:00+, made 16-34 on line in game they led by 12 at half. Jackson State made 14-31 on arc in 81-77 OT win at Sam Houston Monday- Tigers blew 21-point lead in game where they used three guys 40:00+.

**Udog** · 03-15-2016, 09:16 PM

NCAAB

Thursday, March 17

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Trend Report
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1:15 PM
UNC WILMINGTON vs. DUKE
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Duke's last 10 games
Duke is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games

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MARCH 17, 1:40 PM
BUTLER vs. TEXAS TECH
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas Tech's last 6 games
Texas Tech is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games

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MARCH 17, 3:00 PM
IONA vs. IOWA STATE
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Iowa State's last 9 games

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MARCH 17, 3:45 PM
YALE vs. BAYLOR
No trends available
Baylor is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baylor's last 6 games

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MARCH 17, 4:10 PM
HAMPTON vs. VIRGINIA
No trends available
Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Hampton
Virginia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

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MARCH 17, 5:00 PM
AUSTIN PEAY vs. KANSAS
No trends available
Kansas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Kansas's last 13 games

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MARCH 17, 5:30 PM
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK vs. PURDUE
No trends available
Purdue is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Purdue's last 7 games

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MARCH 17, 7:00 PM
FLORIDA STATE vs. VALPARAISO
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Valparaiso's last 6 games
Valparaiso is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

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MARCH 17, 7:20 PM
FLORIDA GULF COAST vs. NORTH CAROLINA
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of North Carolina's last 5 games
North Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

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MARCH 17, 7:50 PM
BUFFALO vs. MIAMI
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Miami's last 21 games
Miami is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games

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MARCH 17, 8:10 PM
CHATTANOOGA vs. INDIANA
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games
Indiana is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

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MARCH 17, 8:27 PM
FRESNO STATE vs. UTAH
No trends available
Utah is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Fresno State
Utah is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games

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MARCH 17, 9:20 PM
WICHITA STATE vs. ARIZONA
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Arizona's last 9 games
Arizona is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games

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MARCH 17, 10:40 PM
STONY BROOK vs. KENTUCKY
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Kentucky's last 5 games
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

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MARCH 17, 10:50 PM
PROVIDENCE vs. USC
No trends available
USC is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of USC's last 6 games

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MARCH 17, 10:57 PM
GONZAGA vs. SETON HALL
No trends available
Seton Hall is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seton Hall's last 6 games

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**Udog** · 03-17-2016, 07:34 AM

Dunkel, Armadillo's write-up and trend report have updated.

**Udog** · 03-17-2016, 07:47 AM

NCAA Tournament 1st Round Betting Previews

Thursday's South Region First Round betting preview

Devonte’ Graham was named Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia.

No. 9 Connecticut Huskies vs. No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes (+3, 131.5)

Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Connecticut took the drama out of Selection Sunday with a dramatic run to the American Athletic Conference title over the weekend. The Huskies, seeded ninth in the South Region, will begin their quest for a fifth national title when they meet No. 8 Colorado in the first round on Thursday at Des Moines, Iowa.

UConn may not have even been in the NCAA field if it weren't for freshman guard Jalen Adams' miraculous 62-foot game-tying prayer at the third-overtime buzzer in its four-overtime win over Cincinnati on Friday. The Huskies steamrolled their way past Temple and Memphis after that to win its first AAC title and the automatic NCAA bid. Some felt that Colorado was a bubble team, but the Buffaloes earned their way into the 68-team field with a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12. Thursday's winner will most likely face the tournament's top-seeded Kansas in the second round if the Jayhawks get past Austin Peay.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with UConn as three-point favorites. The line fluxuated a bit early - even getting as high as 4 at one point - but it seems to have settled in at Cunnecticut -3. The total started at too high of a number in the mind of the betting public. This game had a starting number of 134.5 and was quickly bet all the way down to 131.5.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (24-10, 16-13-1 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U): Running through conference tournaments on the way to the NCAA is nothing new for the Huskies, who embarked on magical rides to the national title in 2011 with the heroics and Kemba Walker and then again in 2014 paced by guard Shabazz Napier. This year's Huskies needed another strong finish to earn a bid and got it thanks to the resurgence of Daniel Hamilton, who has three straight double-doubles and scored a career-high 32 points in 55 minutes against Cincinnati in the ACC quarterfinals. Adams has also blossomed into a budding star, scoring a career-high 22 points against Cincinnati while getting extended playing time while Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs both scored team-high 13 points in Sunday's championship game.

ABOUT COLORADO (22-11, 19-11 ATS, 15-15 O/U): The Buffaloes nearly erased a 22-point deficit but fell short in their last outing, an 82-78 loss against Arizona in the Pac-12 quarterfinals. Colorado, however, got a much-needed win in its conference tournament opener, blowing out Washington State and are in the field for the fourth time in six years under coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes won 11 straight games early in the season before ending the campaign losers of six of their last 11, but are a formidable bunch ranked fourth in the nation in rebounding (42.4 per game) and own big victories over Arizona and Oregon, which earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 NCAA Tournament games.
* Buffaloes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 6-2 in Buffaloes last 8 games following a straight up loss.

No. 16 Austin Peay Governors vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (-26, 152)

Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Kansas is the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and will tip off tourney play Thursday against 16th-seeded Austin Peay in a South Region matchup in Des Moines, Iowa. Of course, a No. 16 seed never has beaten a No. 1, but there is definite later-in-the-bracket concern about the Jayhawks, who have been ousted by lower-seeded teams in five of the last six NCAA tourneys and have failed to advance past the second round in each of their last two appearances.

Coach Bill Self has seen the complete March range in his 13 seasons at the Kansas helm, also guiding the program to five Elite Eight appearances, including a national title in 2008. This will be the fifth time the Jayhawks have been a No. 1 seed under Self and the first time since 2013, when they lost to fourth-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16. “We’ve had some (NCAA Tournaments) where we’ve under-performed ... but, really, there’s pressure on everyone in this tournament,” Self told the media after the South bracket had been revealed. “We’ve done a lot of good things this season, winning our 12th straight (regular-season) Big 12 championship and winning the Big 12 Tournament, but to have a truly successful season, we know you have to have success later in March.” Austin Peay, meanwhile, is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title on March 5 as an eighth seed.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The Kansas Jayhawks opened as 26-point favorites and the total opened at 152. Both numbers have stayed relatively steady and any wobble in either number was quickly returned to the opening figure.

ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY (18-17, 13-15-1 ATS, 19-9-1 O/U): The Governors enter the Big Dance on a six-game win streak, including four victories in four days at the Ohio Valley tourney in Nashville. The Clarksville, Tenn., program is led by 6-8 senior Chris Horton, who is averaging a team-best 18.9 points and 12 rebounds and was named the Ohio Valley Tournament MVP despite being limited by an ankle injury suffered late in the first half of the title game. Guards Josh Robinson (16.7 points) and Khalil Davis (11.2) also are averaging double figures while freshman guard Jared Savage is coming off a career-high 24-point outing in the Ohio Valley championship game, with all the scoring coming on an 8-of-10 showing from 3-point range.

ABOUT KANSAS (30-4, 21-11 ATS, 12-19-1 O/U): The Jayhawks enter the Big Dance as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding a 14-game win streak which includes three Big 12 Tournament victories by an average of 12 points apiece. Guard Devonte’ Graham was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia, and he was joined on the all-tournament team by senior forward Perry Ellis, who totaled 58 points in the three games and is averaging a team-best 16.7 points per contest. Guards Wayne Selden Jr. (13.3 points), Frank Mason III (13.1) and Graham (11.7) also are averaging double digits for Kansas while forward Landen Lucas (6.3 rebounds) and Ellis (5.9) are the team’s pace-setters on the glass.

TRENDS:

* Governors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Jayhawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 10-1 in Governors last 11 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 24-6 in Jayhawks last 30 NCAA Tournament games.

No. 14 Buffalo Bulls vs. No. 3 Miami Hurricanes (-14, 148.5)

Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI

Jim Larranaga - who coached George Mason to the 2006 Final Four - looks to conjure up some old March magic as his Miami squad returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 when it takes on Buffalo in a South Region first-round game Thursday in Providence, R.I. The Hurricanes, the No. 3 seed in the West region, come in having won nine of their last 11, while the Bulls took the Mid-American Conference tournament championship for the second straight season.

Miami sports a balanced offense, with four players averaging in double figures - led by Sheldon McClellan (15.8 points), Angel Rodriguez (11.8) and Davon Reed (11.5), each of whom hit more than 40 3-pointers this year. The Hurricanes are also solid defensively, holding opponents to 66.6 points on 43 percent shooting from the field. Buffalo became the first team in 14 years to defend its MAC tournament title despite being the No. 3 seed, upsetting top-seeded Akron on Saturday. The Bulls also feature four double-figure scorers, with Lamonte Bearden and Blake Hamilton leading the way at 13.6 and 13.1 points, respectively.

TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: Miami opened at -13.5 and were quickly bet up to -14. After sitting at -14 for about 24 hours the line settled back down to -13.5. The total opened and 149.5 and has gradually dropped to it's current status of 148.5.

ABOUT BUFFALO (20-14, 17-13-2 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): After making a trip to the Big Dance last season, Buffalo should be a little more relaxed when it takes the floor against Miami. The Bulls weren't expected to come back to the NCAA Tournament, especially early in the season under first-year head coach Nate Oats, but the team seems to be coming together at just the right time and could give the Hurricanes a tough go. "Nobody was predicting this back in October, November," Oats told reporters. "So I can't say enough about the character of these guys. We got hot at the right time. It's the best basketball we played all year. And we picked the right time to do it, for sure."

ABOUT MIAMI (25-7, 18-12-1 ATS, 15-16 O/U): While everyone wants to go into the NCAA Tournament on a roll, more than half of the field will be coming off a loss, like the Hurricanes are after a loss to Virginia in the ACC tournament semifinals. In fact, Larranaga wasted no time reminding his team that last year's national champion, Duke, also lost in the ACC tournament semis, so there are bigger and better things to focus on. "Nobody's down on themselves because we have bigger things to worry about," forward Kamari Murphy told reporters. "Like Coach told us, Duke was in this exact situation last year and went on to win the title, so a tournament is a new season for us. We have to take one game at a time and hope to keep winning and compete for a national championship."

TRENDS:

* Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Hurricanes are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games.
* Over is 14-2 in Bulls last 16 Thursday games.
* Over is 8-1 in Hurricanes last 9 NCAA Tournament games.

No. 11 Wichita St. Shockers vs. No. 6 Arizona Wildcats (-1.5, 136.5)

Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI

Not only did Arizona receive a lower seed than expected, it must travel almost 2,600 miles to face a well-seasoned backcourt duo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The sixth-seeded Wildcats take on 11th seed Wichita State, featuring senior guards Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker, on Thursday in the South Regional at Providence, R.I.

“We’ve had obstacles. We’ve had adversity strike us,” Arizona coach Sean Miller, whose team went 3-3 in its last six games, told reporters. “The resilience of this team really stands out.” The Wildcats took NCAA top seed Oregon to overtime before losing in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals and boasts three players that average at least 15 points. Arizona will be tested by the Shockers, who rolled away from Vanderbilt 70-50 in the First Four game at Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday as Baker and VanVleet totaled 28 points. “No doubt they’ll have momentum,” Miller told the Arizona Republic. “. … But I also know this: Rest at this time of year is real important. Sometimes, you can get beat up in your own conference tournament and it’s a quick turnaround.”

TV: 9:20 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The spread and total were late arriving based on Wichita St. being involved in the First Four game on Tuesday night. Arizona opened as -1.5 favorites and the total sits at 136.5.

ABOUT WICHITA ST. (25-8, 19-12 ATS, 13-17-1 O/U): Baker scores 14.2 per game and VanVleet chips in with 12.1 while combining for 102 makes from 3-point range for the Shockers, who have won seven of their last eight contests. Half of their points came from bench players Tuesday as Anton Grady scored 11, Conner Frankamp eight and Markis McDuffie seven. “It just speaks volumes to our depth, VanVleet told reporters. “We worked so hard on the young guys. And for them to step up in those moments is huge for our team. This time of year, that’s what you need.”

ABOUT ARIZONA (25-8, 16-17 ATS, 22-11 O/U): Forward Ryan Anderson returns to New England where he played three seasons with Boston College and looks to rebound from a 2-for-13 shooting performance against Oregon. Anderson averages 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and shoots 54.7 percent from the field while senior guard Gabe York scores 15.2 per game - 21.8 over the past four contests. Freshman guard Allonzo Trier has made an impact by averaging 15 points, and 7-0 senior Kaleb Tarczewski (9.4 points, 9.3 boards) could be a key against Wichita State’s relatively small front line.

TRENDS:

* Shockers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
* Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Under is 6-1 in Shockers last 7 vs. Pacific-12.
* Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 non-conference games.

Thursday's East Region First Round betting preview

USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence.

No. 16 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (-22, 148)

Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Top-seeded North Carolina could be playing its best basketball of the season at the right time as it prepares to face the first test in the NCAA Tournament. The ACC champion Tar Heels look to extend their winning streak to six games when they take on 16th seed FGCU in the first round of the East Regional Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina allowed only 52 points per game and 33.6 percent shooting in the final two contests of the ACC tournament and hopes to continue that kind of work in the defensive end to add to its explosive offense. “We kept getting better all season,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told reporters of the team’s defense. “We saw the fruits of the labor immediately (at the ACC tournament) and that sort of gave us a little more confidence, too.” North Carolina will have to play well in the defensive end against FGCU, which shot 59.6 percent in the 96-65 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the First Four on Tuesday. “We’re just going to stay confident and believe in ourselves and give it our best effort,” Eagles leading scorer Marc Eddy Norelia told reporters. “Anything can happen.”

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE HISTORY: The No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels opened as massive 22-point favorites over the FGCU Eagles. The total opened at 148.

ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST (21-13, 4-3-1 ATS, 4-4 O/U): Norelia recorded 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds in the First Four triumph for his fourth double-double in five games and had five of team's 27 assists - their most since becoming a Division I program for the 2011-12 season. Norelia tops three players in double figures scoring (17.3) and leads the team in rebounding (9.2) while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Christian Terrell (12.7 points) is averaging 15 over the last four games and Zach Johnson (11.1) shoots 40.3 percent from behind the arc.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (28-6, 16-17-1 ATS, 17-17 O/U): Joel Berry II raised his level of play in the ACC tournament, averaging 17 points, and joins the talented Marcus Paige in a backcourt that will be a key moving forward. Paige, a preseason All-American who has been inconsistent (12.1 points, 3.7 assists, 39.3 percent shooting), must find his top form if the Tar Heels are to win it all and Berry was 17-of-24 from the field in the ACC tournament. Brice Johnson is the top threat inside, averaging 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent from the field.

TRENDS:

* Eagles are 13-1 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
* Tar Heels are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 8-0-1 in Eagles last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 5-0 in Tar Heels last 5 non-conference games.

No. 9 Providence Friars vs. No. 8 Southern California Trojans (+1.5, 149.5)

Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence, which finished fourth in the Big East and features future NBA lottery pick Kris Dunn in the backcourt, in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C. The Trojans can only hope they enjoy the kind of success that their third-year had coach Andy Enfield experienced in his last trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 when his Florida Gulf Coast "Dunk City" squad made an unexpected run to the Sweet 16.

Ironically, Florida Gulf Coast may be taking the court just before the USC-Providence contest if it wins its First Four play-in game and faces North Carolina, the top overall seed in the East and the likely opponent for the Providence-USC winner. The Trojans, who were considered a bubble team after finishing in a three-way tie for sixth in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 Conference and then losing to Utah, 80-72, in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, exhaled when they finally saw their name appear on Sunday's selection show. "We figured we'd get in, but it was awesome to actually see it happen," guard Julian Jacobs said. "We're just super-glad to be in position to compete for a championship. We can't wait to get to North Carolina."

TV: 9:50 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE HISTORY: Providence opened as one-point favorites over the USC Trojans. The point spread got as high as 3.5 at one point in the week but it settled down as the Friars -1.5. The total had an up-and-down week as well with an opening number of 149.5, a rise to 150.5, and a drop down to the original number of 149.5.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (23-10, 18-14 ATS, 19-13 O/U): There might not be a better 1-2 punch in the nation than 6-9 sophomore forward Ben Bentil and Dunn, considered a potential top-five pick in this summer's NBA Draft. Bentil leads the team in scoring (21.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.8) while Dunn is second in scoring (16.0) and also is averaging 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Forward Rodney Bullock also is averaging in double figures (11.6) and had a team-best 18 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, in the Friars' 76-68 loss to No. 1 seeded Villanova in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Friday.

ABOUT USC (21-12, 18-14-1 ATS, 18-14-1 O/U): The Trojans won a total of five conference games and were just 23-41 in Enfield's first two seasons before turning things around dramatically this year. USC has five players averaging in double figures led by sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin (13.4 points) who is also shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range. Nikola Jovanovic, a 6-11 junior, mans the inside and is averaging 12.1 points and a team high 7.0 rebounds while Jacobs (11.8 points), Katin Reinhardt (11.5) and Bennie Boatwright (11.5) also are averaging double digits.

TRENDS:

* Friars are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
* Trojans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 7-1 in Friars last 8 neutral site games.
* Over is 6-0-1 in Trojans last 7 games following a ATS loss.

No. 12 Chattanooga Mocs vs. No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers (-12, 145.5)

Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

After a disappointing Big Ten tournament showing, Indiana gets a chance to redeem itself as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, taking on No. 12 Chattanooga in a first-round game in the East region on Thursday. As the top seed in the Big Ten tournament, the Hoosiers lost their opening game on a buzzer-beater against Michigan, while the Mocs come in having won five straight, including rolling to their 11th Southern Conference tournament title.

Indiana is led by one of the top point guards in the country in senior Yogi Ferrell (17 points, 5.5 assists) and has a pair of solid scorers in Troy Williams (13.1 points) and Thomas Bryant (11.6). The Hoosiers average nearly 16 assists a game as a team, shooting 50.1 percent from the field, including 41.5 percent from 3-point range. Chattanooga notched a school-record 29 victories this season with 6-5 forward Tre McLean leading the way with 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds. Justin Tuoyo, a 6-10 forward, adds 11.1 points, while senior Eric Robertson is a dangerous 3-point shooter, hitting 80 from beyond the arc on 40.4 percent shooting.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with the Indiana Hoosiers favored by 11 but was quickly bet up to -12. The total opened at 144.5 and rose slightly during the week to 145.5.

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (29-5, 16-13-1 ATS, 14-13-2 O/U): It's easier to say after the fact, but Chattanooga coach Matt McCall looks back on a Feb. 20 15-point loss to UNC Greensboro as a good thing. McCall's squad hasn't lost since the setback, which he said showed that his team wasn't ready for such a big moment but learned from it. "Everything was at stake (in the Southern tournament title game)," McCall told reporters. "Just trying to get the guys to understand that we've got to do our job and can't get caught up in the moment, so when the moment happened, we handled it well."

ABOUT INDIANA (25-7, 17-15 ATS, 15-17 O/U): Despite the disappointment of falling to Michigan in its Big Ten tournament opener, Indiana coach Tom Crean has his team confident it can shake off the loss and play well in the NCAA Tournament. Right after the contest, players were already talking about things they can improve on -- turnovers, motion on offense -- and looking forward to hitting the court in the Big Dance. "We're still confident," freshman OG Anunoby told reporters. "We think we can learn from it. And look forward to the next game."

TRENDS:

* Mocs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Hoosiers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 4-0-2 in Mocs last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 Thursday games.

No. 13 Stony Brook Seawolves vs. No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (-14, 143)

Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

After some regular-season struggles, Kentucky is once again a team that nobody wants to face in the NCAA Tournament. The SEC tournament champions begin their search for another Final Four trip Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, as the No. 4 seed in the East Region against 13th-seeded Stony Brook.

The Wildcats have won five straight games, including a strong run through the SEC tournament which they capped with an overtime victory over Texas A&M on Sunday. “I'm really proud of this basketball team, how much they've improved,” coach John Calipari said to reporters in his postgame press conference. “Individually, guys are becoming the best version of themselves.” Calipari's assessment certainly includes standout point guard Tyler Ulis, who recorded 30 points against Texas A&M, and backcourt mate Jamal Murray, who is the team's leading scorer (20.1 points). Stony Brook is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance but boasts a legitimate star in 6-8 senior forward Jameel Warney, who averages 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds and poured in a school-record 43 points with 10 boards in the America East title game against Vermont.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Kentucky opened at -13.5 and the line was bet up to -14. The total opened at 144 and the public felt that was too high and pounded the under early in the week, prompting a drop by the books to 143.

ABOUT STONY BROOK (26-6, 0-5-1 ATS, 4-2 O/U): The Seawolves played at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame in the non-conference portion of their schedule, losing by seven and 25, respectively, although the defeat to the Commodores came in overtime. Warney has scored in double figures every game this season and averaged 30.3 points and 15.3 rebounds over three America East tournament contests. Three other Stony Brook players average at least 10 points, including Carson Puriefoy (15.1), who has knocked down at least 40 percent of his 3-pointers in four of the last five games and has drained a team-high 81 3-pointers on the year.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (26-8, 18-16 ATS, 19-14-1 O/U): The Wildcats have reached the Final Four in each of their last four NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and - as usual - enter the Big Dance with a deep roster of reigning McDonald's All-Americans mixed in with some veteran mainstays. One of the veterans in this case is Ulis, the diminutive sophomore who has totaled 55 points and two turnovers in his last two games and has not been held to single-digit points since early January. The freshman class for the Wildcats is highlighted by Murray, who has knocked down at least three 3-pointers in 12 of his last 13 games, and Isaiah Briscoe, who has endured an up-and-down season but registered 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the conference title game.

TRENDS:

* Seawolves are 0-5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Wildcats are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 7-2 in Seawolves last 9 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.

Thursday's Midwest Region First Round betting preview

Virginia hopes their quest for a national title begins Thursday with a win against No. 16 seed Hampton.

No. 9 Butler Bulldogs vs. No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (+4, 147)

Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Eighth-seeded Texas Tech, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007, will face tournament veteran and No. 9-seed Butler in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest region. Both teams enter the dance after disappointing exits in their respective conference tournaments.

Texas Tech got on a roll in February - winning five in a row, including three consecutive against top 25 teams - before a 1-3 finish capped by a loss to last-place TCU in the Big 12 tournament. Red Raiders coach Tubby Smith - named the league's coach of the year - joins Oklahoma's Lon Kruger - as the only coaches to take five teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs earned their eighth berth in the past 10 years and have won at least one game in seven of those appearances. Thursday's winner will face top-seeded Virginia or Hampton on Saturday.

TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV

LINE HISTORY: Bookmakers think the selection committee got the seeding wrong on this one with the 9th seeded Bulldogs opening as 2.5-point favorites and bettors agree. The line has moved from Butler -2.5 to -4. The total has been bet down a point and a half, moving from 148.5 to 147. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT BUTLER (21-10, 16-14-1 ATS, 16-13-1 O/U): Sharp-shooting Kellen Dunham (42.8 percent from 3-point range) leads four players in double figures at 16.3 for the high-scoring Bulldogs (80.6 points). Forwards Kelan Martin (16.1 points, 6.8 rebounds), Roosevelt Jones (14, 6.6) and Andrew Chrabascz (10.1 points) give the Bulldogs plenty of scoring options all over the court. The Bulldogs - who went 2-7 against the Big East's four other NCAA Tournament teams - are looking for back-to-back opening round wins after beating Texas last year.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (19-12, 15-13 ATS, 15-13 O/U): Toddrick Gotcher shoots 40 percent from behind the 3-point line and leads a balanced offensive attack - where seven players average at least eight points - with 11.1. Devaugntah Williams (10.6 points) and Aaron Ross (10.3) contribute off the bench and Zach Smith (10.1) leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. The Red Raiders, who led the Big 12 in free-throw shooting (74.6 percent), haven't won a tournament game since advancing to the 2005 Sweet 16.

TRENDS:

* Butler is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall and 21-6-1 ATS in their last 28 NCAA Tournament games.
* Texas Tech is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-1 in Butler's last six games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Texas Tech's last five NCAA Tournament games.

No. 13 Iona Gaels vs. No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones (-7.5, 167)

Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

After a year to lament last season’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State gets its chance for redemption when the fourth-seeded Cyclones face No. 13 seed Iona in the Midwest Region on Thursday in Denver. The Cyclones are in the tournament for a school-record fifth consecutive year and are a top-four seed for the third straight season, but they flamed out early in a 60-59 first-round loss to No. 14 seed UAB a year ago.

Iona is no stranger to painful losses in March – in 10 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Gaels have only one win (in 1980) and seven losses by five points or fewer. The Gaels enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won eight straight and 12 of their last 13. Iowa State enters the tournament after consecutive losses to No. 1 Kansas in the regular-season finale and No. 6 Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament, but the Cyclones have an impressive resume that includes wins over those same two teams. The Gaels won the only previous meeting, 89-72 at Iowa State on Nov. 26, 2005.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Iowa State opened as eight point favorites and have been bet down to -7.5. The total here is the interesting number. With these two high flying teams the total opened at 167 - the highest of the First Round - and has actually been bet up to 167. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT IONA (22-10, 16-15 ATS, 15-16 O/U): The Gaels are in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six seasons under coach Tim Cluess, whose teams play at a break-neck pace and love the 3-point shot. Star guard A.J. English (22.4 points, 6.2 assists) – the son of former NBA star Alex English – is one of three Gaels with at least 77 made 3-pointers and 171 attempts from beyond the arc. Volatile forward Jordan Washington (13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is a force inside when he can stay out of foul trouble, but he averages just 18.4 minutes.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (21-11, 15-13 ATS, 13-15-1 O/U): The Cyclones are one of the most balanced teams in the nation with seven players averaging double-digit scoring, but senior forward Georges Niang (19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is their star. Niang matched his career high with 31 points against Oklahoma on Thursday and has scored in double figures in 41 consecutive games and 112 in his career. If opponents focus too much effort on limiting Niang’s touches, though, there are plenty of other Cyclones who can make them pay, and point guard Monte Morris (13.9 points, 6.9 assists) is adept and doing it himself or finding the open teammate.

TRENDS:

* Iona is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games overall.
* Iowa State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Iona's last four neutral site games.
* Under is 9-2 in Iowa State's last 11 neutral site games.

No. 16 Hampton Pirates vs. No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (-23.5, 133)

Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Virginia has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons and opens play Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., with a first-round matchup against No. 16 Hampton in the Midwest Region. The Cavaliers cannot look too far ahead but are facing a potential matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan State - which has knocked off Virginia in each of the last two tournaments - in the regional final.

Before they can even entertain such a thought, the Cavaliers must recover from a 61-57 loss to North Carolina in the ACC tournament title game on Saturday. For the fifth straight season under coach Tony Bennett, Virginia has held opponents to under 60 points per game, but this version averaged over 70 on the other end for the first time in Bennett's seven season, led by ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon (18.7). Hampton is in the Big Dance for the sixth time after rolling through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Pirates had a memorable win as a 15-seed in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and picked up another victory in the event with a triumph over Manhattan in a "First Four" game last season.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, truTV

LINE HISTORY: Virginia opened as big 24-point favorites over Hampton and have been bet down slightly to -23.5. The total has also been bet down a half point, moving from 133.5 to 133. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT HAMPTON (21-10, 3-2 ATS, 5-0 O/U): The Pirates have a two-headed monster in senior guards Reggie Johnson - who ranked second on the MEAC in scoring (18.3) and tied for third in assists (4.1) - and Quinton Chievous, the league's fourth-leading scorer (17.0) and top rebounder (11.0). The latter averaged 18.5 points and 11.5 boards in two tournament games a year ago and enters this one having averaged 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds over his last four games. Brian Darden, also a senior, is the one other player scoring in double figures (13.2) and ranks as the team's most consistent perimeter threat, knocking down 8-of-14 3-pointers in the final two games of the conference tourney.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (26-7, 17-14 ATS, 12-19 O/U): Brogdon averaged 21.7 points during the ACC tournament but was just 6-of-22 from the floor against the Tar Heels and likely has motivation to improve upon his past performances in NCAAs. He shot 10-of-30 in the team's Sweet 16 run two seasons ago and was 9-of-29 last year, including 3-of-12 in the second straight elimination loss to Michigan State. Anthony Gill, the team's second-leading scorer, has reached double figures in four of his previous five NCAA Tournament games.

TRENDS:

* Hampton is 5-0 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Hampton's last six games overall (when a total was listed).
* Under is 11-2 in Virginia's last 13 games overall.

No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans vs. No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers (-9, 128.5)

Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

Fifth-seeded Purdue looks to build on its deep run in the Big Ten tournament when it takes on No. 12 seed Little Rock in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver on Thursday. The Boilermakers notched impressive victories over Illinois and Michigan before falling to red-hot Michigan State 66-62 in the tournament final but will make their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after missing out on March Madness in the previous two years.

Purdue has won the battle of the boards in all but two games this season and hopes to use its overwhelming height advantage to advance past the first round for the first time since 2012. Little Rock coach Chris Beard has engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in the nation as the Trojans notched 16 more wins than they did in the previous season. Little Rock has won eight of its last nine games and captured the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles en route to setting a school record for most victories in a campaign with 29. The Trojans beat ULM 70-50 in the Sun Belt Tournament final to secure their fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament and their first since 2011.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE HISTORY: Purdue opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up a point to its current number of -9. The total has seen plenty of movement, going down 2.5-points from 131 to 128.5. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT LITTLE ROCK (29-4, 19-10 ATS, 10-19 O/U): Roger Woods went 8-of-10 from the field en route to a team-high 19 points against ULM and earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award in the process. Marcus Johnson Jr. added 14 points while Jalen Jackson provided a spark off the bench by scoring 11 points. "I'm the luckiest man in the world to be coaching these guys," Beard told reporters. "We're not done yet and I think we can do some damage in the tournament."

ABOUT PURDUE (26-8, 18-11-1 ATS, 15-15 O/U): Vince Edwards led the Boilermakers with 19 points while A.J. Hammons added 11 points and nine rebounds against Michigan State to finish in double figures for the 15th consecutive game. Caleb Swanigan also scored 11 points but Purdue couldn't overcome a poor-shooting first half against the Spartans. "We came far from two years ago coming in last place in the Big Ten," senior defensive stopper Rapheal Davis told reporters. "To go out and get a five seed and play a good team like Little Rock will be good for us."

TRENDS:

* Arkansas-Little Rock is 7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference games.
* Purdue is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Arkansas-Little Rock's last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-2 in Purdue's last seven games overall.

No. 14 Fresno State Bulldogs vs. No. 3 Utah Utes (-8.5, 138.5)

Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

Third-seeded Utah made a splash in its return to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and hopes to take a step - or four - further when it meets No. 14 seed Fresno State on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver. The Utes, appearing in their first NCAAs since 2009, lost to eventual national champion Duke in the Sweet 16 last season and return plenty of experience and firepower including Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year Jakob Poeltl.

Utah was crushed by Oregon - the No. 1 seed in the West Region - 88-57 in Saturday's Pac-12 tournament final, but coach Larry Krystkowiak wasn't too concerned after the Utes had their nine-game winning streak snapped. "I know our guys would trade for some success starting (Thursday),'' he told reporters. "If it means getting our butts waxed in the championship game, then we'll take our medicine and hopefully be focused for some practice on Monday." The Bulldogs earned their ninth straight victory and first NCAA bid since 2001 with a 68-63 win over San Diego State on Saturday in the Mountain West Conference tournament championship game behind senior guard and MWC Player of the Year Marvelle Harris, the school's all-time leading scorer. "It was incredible. Greatest feeling I've had in my whole basketball career," Harris told reporters after the title game. "It's a big win for the program, community, fans, everyone. ..."

TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, truTV

LINE HISTORY: Utah opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up to -8.5. Meanwhile, the total has moved a whopping four points since opening, going down from 142.5 to 138.5. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT FRESNO STATE (25-9, 18-11 ATS, 17-12 O/U): Harris (20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, team-high 4.4 assists) has 2,007 career points after averaging 17.7 in three MWC tournament games and scoring 34 against Utah State on March 5 to break the previous school record of 1,951 set by Melvin Ely in 2002. Harris, who was also named MWC tournament MVP, has 701 points this season - breaking the previous single-season school standard set by Carl Ray Harris in 1994. The Bulldogs boast six other players averaging at least 7.6 points including Torren Jones (10.5 points, team-high 7.9 rebounds) and fellow junior forward Karachi Edo (9.9, 6.4).

ABOUT UTAH (26-8, 16-15-1 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): Poeltl, a 7-0 sophomore forward from Vienna, Austria, averages 17.6 points, nine rebounds and 1.6 blocks. The Utes have five players scoring at least 9.6 points with senior forward Jordan Loveridge (11.8) leading the group, which also includes sophomore forward Kyle Kuzma (10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds). Senior point guard Brandon Taylor (9.6 points, team-high 3.8 assists) runs the show while junior guard Lorenzo Bonam (9.9 points) also contributes.

TRENDS:

* Fresno State is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Utah is 4-0-2 ATS in its last six games versus Mountain West opponents.
* Over is 5-1 in Fresno State's last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Utah's last six neutral site games.

No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 6 Seton Hall Pirates (Pick, 145.5)

Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

Seton Hall's shocking run to the Big East tournament title earned it an equally surprising No. 6 seed and a date with No. 11 Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver on Thursday. The Pirates, making their first appearance in the field in 10 years, will be looking to recapture some of their former glory, like when they reached the 1989 championship game, as they kick off play in the Midwest Region.

Gonzaga needed an extended run and perhaps even the West Coast Conference tournament title to secure its 18th straight appearance in the field. The Bulldogs, who reached the Elite Eight last year, losing to eventual national champion Duke, did just that by disposing of Saint Mary's in the final, leaving the top-seeded Gaels on the Big Dance sidelines. Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round tournament game each of the last seven seasons -- Kansas is the other. Led by sophomore sensation Isaiah Whitehead, who scored 26 points in the Big East title game against Villanova, Seton Hall is making its 10th appearance in the tournament.

TV: 9:57 p.m. ET, truTV

LINE HISTORY: Another situation where the books feel the selection commitee got the seeding wrong opening the No. 11 seed Bulldogs as slight 2-point faves over the Pirates. Money has come in on Seton Hall since however and the line has moved to a Pick'em. The total has been bet up 2-points from 143.5 to 145.5. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT SETON HALL (25-8, 23-9 ATS, 14-18 O/U): Whitehead, who is expected to bolt for the NBA after the season, recorded a three-point play in the closing seconds to lead the Pirates to a 69-67 win over the Wildcats in the Big East title game. Another sophomore, Khadeen Carrington, scored a game-high 23 points as Seton Hall nipped Xavier 87-83 in the semifinal. The Pirates are certainly young but guided by coach Kevin Willard and, in his sixth year with the team, they have won 12 of their last 14 games in what was regarded as one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

ABOUT GONZAGA (26-7, 15-15-1 ATS, 16-15 O/U): Gonzaga's NCAA Tournament streak seemed to be in serious jeopardy after an early-season back injury cost them the services of star center Przemek Karnowski. But emerging power forward Domantas Sabonis, who some feel is a future NBA lottery choice, and sharp-shooting Kyle Wiltjer, who transferred from national champion Kentucky after the 2012-13 season and led the team in scoring at 20.7 points a game, helped keep the Bulldogs in the bubble picture. Led by coach Mark Few, Gonzaga has shunned the label of mid-major power and is 22-18 all-time in NCAA games with six trips to the Sweet 16 and two trips to the Elite Eight, although the team was just 1-3 against ranked opponents this season.

TRENDS:

* Gonzaga is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Seton Hall is 4-0 ATS in its last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Gonzaga's last five neutral site games.
* Over is 2-1 in Seton Hall's last six games overall.

Thursday's West Region First Round betting preview

Duke has been inconsistent this season, but will attempt to defend their national title, starting with a First Round matchup with UNC-Wilmington.

No. 13 UNC-Wilmington Seahawks vs. No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (-10.5, 157)

Games to be played at Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI

A Tar Heel State showdown is on tap Thursday in Providence, R.I., where fourth-seeded Duke will take on No. 13 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region. While the Blue Devils are in the NCAA Tournament for the 21st consecutive season, the Seahawks are making their first appearance in a decade.

The Blue Devils are the defending national champions, but they’ve struggled at times after losing big man Amile Jefferson to a broken foot just nine games into the season and won just one game in the ACC tournament before losing to Notre Dame in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Seahawks have been in tournament mode for more than a week after having to scrape through three close games in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. They won their first two games in the tournament by a total of five points and needed overtime to dispatch Hofstra in the championship game. The in-state foes have met only once before, with Duke winning 67-57 in overtime on Feb. 8, 1982.

TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as 9.5-point faves and all the early money has been on the Blue Devils, who have been bet up a whole point to sit at -10.5. The total has been bet up a half point from 156.5 to 157. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT UNC WILMINGTON (25-7, 15-13 ATS, 16-12 O/U): The Seahawks were a fixture in the NCAA Tournament in the early 2000s but have only one win – a 93-89 overtime triumph over No. 4 seed USC in 2002. Wilmington employs a guard-oriented lineup with four starters listed at 6-5 or shorter and likes to push the pace. Junior guard Chris Flemmings (16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds) is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, but backcourt mates Denzel Ingram (12.5 points) and Craig Ponder (11.1 points) also can hurt defenses.

ABOUT DUKE (23-10, 13-17-2 ATS, 14-18 O/U): The Blue Devils took a huge hit when they lost Jefferson, a post presence and veteran leader, and their youth has shown at the defensive end. There is plenty of offensive firepower with sophomore guard Grayson Allen (21.6 points) leading the way, but two of the team’s top three – Brandon Ingram (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Luke Kennard (11.9 points) – are freshmen who are unproven on the big stage. Allen, Ingram and junior guard Matt Jones (10.8 points) all love to shoot from the outside and are the first trio in program history to each make at least 70 3-pointers in a season.

TRENDS:

* NC-Wilmington is 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Duke is 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall, but 6-0 ATS in its last six NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 7-1 in UNC-Wilmington's last eight neutral site games.
* Under is 8-2 in Duke's last 10 games overall.

No. 12 Yale Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Baylor Bears (-5, 136.5)

Baylor was among the best teams in the nation's best conference this season and hopes the high level of competition puts it in a position to succeed in the NCAA Tournament beginning with Thursday's West Region first-round game against Yale in Providence, R.I. The fifth-seeded Bears are coming off a 70-66 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Friday in the Big 12 tournament semifinals and have lost three of their last four games - all against ranked teams.

Baylor should also be extra motivated after a stunning 57-56 loss to No. 14 seed Georgia State in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. "Last year, we didn't like how it ended," Bears coach Scott Drew told reporters. "We had had a lot of success in the tournament, and that was the first time we really got stung. I know the returning players and coaches are motivated to make sure we do better." The No. 12 seed Bulldogs are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since John F. Kennedy was president after winning their first Ivy League title since 1962. Yale, which went 13-1 in the Ivy League, is riding a five-game winning streak and has won seven of eight since captain Jack Montague was expelled from school after an alleged sexual assault incident.

LINE HISTORY: The No. 5 seed Bears opened as 5.5-point favorites, but money has come in on the Bulldogs, with Baylor now sitting at -5. As for the total, bettors like the over with the number moving up a point and a half from 135 to 136.5. Check out the complete line history here.

ABOUT YALE (22-6, 11-6-2 ATS, 11-8 O/U): The Bulldogs are expected to control the game with a slow tempo and frustrate the athletic Bears. Yale is led in scoring by senior forward Justin Sears and sophomore guard Makai Mason, who each average 15.8 points despite Sears scoring only nine total points in the last two games. Sears grabs a team-best 7.5 rebounds while senior forward Brandon Sherrod (12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) is also a major contributor.

ABOUT BAYLOR (22-12, 12-14-1 ATS, 15-12 O/U): The Bears have five players who score roughly two-thirds of their points, led by senior forward Taurean Prince (15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds). Baylor will need senior forward Rico Gathers (11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds) to contribute offensively and control the boards against a solid rebounding team which is 20th nationally at 40.4 per game. Sophomore guard Al Freeman (11.5 points) and sophomore forward Johnathan Motley (11.0 points) are also offensive factors while senior point guard Lester Medford (9.1 points, 11th nationally with 6.5 assists) runs the show.

TRENDS:

* Yale is 6-0 ATS in its last six neutral site games.
* Baylor is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Yale's last four games following an ATS win.
* Under is 4-0 in Baylor's last four games overall.

**Udog** · 03-17-2016, 08:26 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

Six of the more interesting first round games the next two days.........

-- Gonzaga-Seton Hall-- Zags won their last seven first round games. Seton Hall is on heels of winning first Big East tournament since 1993.

-- Wichita State-Arizona-- Wildcats are only favored by 1.5 points.

-- Iona-Iowa State-- Fast-paced game with thin rosters in high altitude.

-- Providence-USC-- How far can Dunn/Bentil carry the Friars?

-- VCU-Oregon State-- Beavers' first appearance in NCAAs since 1990.

-- South Dakota State-Maryland-- Jackrabbits get a shot at one of the big boys.

**********

Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Welcome to best four days of year.....

These are my favorite four days of the year; wall-to-wall basketball; I've been retired for over a year now, but the last time I worked this week was in 1986. Ha!!!! Here are some tidbits you might find interesting while you watch today's games.

13) I'll start by amusing you with my Final Four pick:
West Virginia-Kansas-St Joseph's-Michigan State

12) Teams that won Big East tournament are 6-2-1 vs spread in their first NCAA tournament game; thats Seton Hall this year- they play a Gonzaga squad thats won its last seven first round games.

11) Over last decade, teams that lost those Big East tournament finals are 6-4 vs spread in their first tournament game- that would be Villanova this year.

10) Arizona is 10-3 in its last 13 first round games; its losses came when they were seeded 8-8-10th- they're a 6 this year. Last time Arizona lost in first round as higher than an 8-seed was 1999, when they lost to West Virginia as a 4-seed.

9) Utah-Fresno State pits the Pac-12 against Mountain West. So far this season, teams from Pac-12 are 14-1 against Mountain West teams, 10-5 against the spread.

8) Since 2003, Ivy League champ is 1-3 vs spread in NCAAs if they're an underdog of less than 10 points; they're 5-4 if getting 10+ points (they're always underdogs). Yale is getting 5.5 points from Baylor- we're rooting for our old friend James Jones.

7) When Holy Cross plays Oregon Friday, and the TV guys start talking about Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn back in the 50's, one of your kids might ask you who Bob Cousy is. Show them this clip, from the movie Blue Chips-- I'm guessing your kids have heard of Shaquille O'Neal- he was in this movie, too.

6) There are two first-round matchups where both teams rank in bottom 50 in the country, in terms of tempo. Northern Iowa-Texas, Pitt-Wisconsin. Slow-paced games.

5) Iona-Iowa State is only first round game where both teams are in top 100 as far as tempo goes. Neither team is deep, game is in high altitude of Denver.

4) Stony Brook-Kentucky is only first round game where both teams won regular season in their league and then also won the conference tournament.

3) Since 2003, underdogs are 31-21 vs spread in games with 8-9 seeds playing.

2) Big Sky teams are 0-9 in NCAAs since Montana beat Nevada in a 2006 first round game. Wolf Pack beat Montana 79-75 last night, in a CBI game.

1) Last 22 years, the #12 seed in the midwest is 17-5 vs spread in its first round game. That #12 seed this year is Ark-Little Rock, getting nine points from Purdue.

**Udog** · 03-17-2016, 03:17 PM

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Thursday, March 17

Buffalo at Miami FL, 6:50 ET
Buffalo: 8-1 ATS in all neutral court lined games
Miami FL: 2-10 ATS after 4 games where opponent grabbed 31 or less rebounds

Wichita State at Arizona, 9:20 ET
Wichita St: 7-1 ATS after 2 straight games with 9 or less offensive rebounds
Arizona: 1-8 ATS in road games after 3 or more consecutive overs

FLA Gulf Coast at North Carolina, 7:20 ET
FLA Gulf Coast: 13-0 ATS in road games after 1 or more consecutive wins
N Carolina: 5-18 ATS after a game with 5 or less offensive rebounds

Providence at USC, 9:50 ET
Providence: 60-86 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4
USC: 18-9 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread

Hampton at Virginia, 3:10 ET
Hampton: 9-0 ATS as an underdog
Virginia: 31-50 ATS in road games off a loss against a conference rival

Austin Peay at Kansas, 4:00 ET
Austin Peay: 9-2 ATS in road games after playing a game as an underdog
Kansas: 5-13 ATS after playing 5 consecutive games as favorite

Tenn Chattanooga at Indiana, 7:10 ET
Tenn Chattanooga: 14-29 ATS in road games in all tournament games
Indiana: 21-10 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread

Stony Brook at Kentucky, 9:40 ET
Stony Brook: 7-0 ATS in road games after a win by 6 points or less
Kentucky: 2-8 ATS after 3 or more consecutive wins

Arkansas Little Rock at Purdue, 4:30 ET
Arkansas Little Rock: 6-0 UNDER as an underdog
Purdue: 12-3 ATS after 2 or more consecutive unders

Fresno State at Utah, 7:25 ET
Fresno St: 6-0 ATS off 3 straight wins against conference rivals
Utah: 15-30 ATS in road games after 2 or more consecutive overs

Gonzaga at Seton Hall, 9:55 ET
Gonzaga: 6-16 ATS after covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games
Seton Hall: 15-4 ATS after 3 consecutive conference games

Announcement

Thursday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/17

Thursday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/17

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