The Bum's College Basketball Best Bets/Trends/ News Thru The Madness !

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday - Session 1
March 16, 2018

East Region – Pittsburgh – PPG Paints Arena
#9 Alabama vs. #1 Villanova (-11, 148) – 12:10 PM EST – CBS

Two seasons ago, Villanova (31-4 SU, 23-12 ATS) cut down the nets by hitting the game-winning three-pointer in the National Championship to edge North Carolina. The Wildcats couldn’t escape the opening weekend last season as a top seed when they were tripped up by Wisconsin in the second round. Villanova looks for its third Sweet 16 appearance since 2009, as Jay Wright’s squad has been bounced as the top seed in 2016 and 2014 in the round of 32.

‘Nova cruised past 16th-seeded Radford, 87-61 in Thursday’s opening round as the Wildcats cashed as 22 ½-point favorites. Six Wildcats scored in double-figures, led by Jalen Brunson’s 16 points, as Villanova shot nearly 60% from the floor, while knocking down 14 three-pointers. Villanova has covered in three of four postseason games, which includes a 2-1 ATS mark in the Big East tournament.

Alabama (20-15 SU, 18-15-1 ATS) broke into the NCAA field thanks to a pair of victories in the SEC tournament over Texas A&M and Auburn. Avery Johnson’s team was in must-win mode in St. Louis after suffering five consecutive losses to close out the regular season. The clincher for the Big Dance came in a quarterfinals blowout of top-seeded (and rival) Auburn, 81-63 as 6 ½-point underdogs to beat the Tigers for the second time this season.

The Crimson Tide rallied past Virginia Tech in the first round, 86-83 as three-point underdogs to pick up their first NCAA tournament victory since 2006. Freshman star Colin Sexton paced the Tide with 25 points, while fellow guard John Petty contributed 20 points as Alabama shot a scorching 60% from the field.

The Tide are riding a 4-1 ATS run, while being listed as a double-digit underdog for the first time this season. The largest underdog number Alabama was listed at was nine points in a December setback at Arizona, 88-82. Villanova has cashed in 12 of its past 18 contests, while putting together a solid 17-8 ATS mark when laying at least 10 points this season.

Midwest Region – Pittsburgh – PPG Paints Arena
#7 Rhode Island vs. #2 Duke (-9 ½, 149 ½) – 2:40 PM EST – CBS

In 2015, the Blue Devils (27-7 SU, 21-11 ATS) captured the fifth championship in the famed Mike Krzyzewski era. However, Duke has gone backwards in the NCAA tournament since that title by losing in the Sweet 16 to Oregon in 2016, followed by a round of 32 exit to eventual Final Four participant South Carolina last season. Duke has won only one of its championships as a #2 seed, coming back in 1991 against Kansas for the first title in school history.

The Blue Devils rebounded from an ACC semifinals setback to rival North Carolina by routing Iona in the first round, 89-67. Duke barely cashed as 20 ½-point favorites, but freshman stud Marvin Bagley III pumped in 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor. Trevon Duval scored 19 points, while Grayson Allen and Gary Trent, Jr. each contributed 16 points as Duke improved to 19-3 in the last 22 tournament openers.

Rhode Island (26-7 SU, 17-13-1 ATS) fell short against Davidson in the Atlantic 10 championship by one point, but still managed to secure an at-large big to the dance. The Rams needed overtime to knock out Trae Young and Oklahoma in Thursday’s first round, 83-78 as URI erased a four-point halftime deficit. E.C. Matthews led the Rams with 16 points, while Rhode Island won in spite of shooting 39% from the field. However, URI limited Oklahoma to 4-of-20 shooting from three-point range.

There isn’t a rich history of NCAA tournament success for the Rams, who have not advanced past the second round since their run to the Elite Eight in 1998. Dan Hurley’s squad is currently on a 3-6 ATS run, but five of those ATS losses came in the favorite role. Rhode Island posted a 1-3-1 ATS record in the underdog role, as its highest ‘dog number (+6) came against Virginia in a 70-55 loss back in November.

Both Rhode Island and Duke are currently on solid UNDER runs, as the Rams have hit the UNDER in five of the past seven games. The Blue Devils have drilled the UNDER in eight of the last nine contests, while limiting nine of the previous 10 opponents to 70 points or fewer.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday - Session 3
March 16, 2018

West Region – Boise – Taco Bell Arena
#5 Ohio State vs. #4 Gonzaga (-3, 143) – 7:45 PM EST – CBS

-- As of late Friday afternoon, most betting shops had Gonzaga (31-4 straight up, 14-17 against the spread) installed as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 143. The Buckeyes were +150 on the money line (risk $100 to win $150).

-- Gonzaga survived a major scare in Thursday’s opening-round win over UNC Greensboro. With the game knotted at 64-64, Zach Norvell Jr. drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 20.1 seconds left to propel his team to the Round of 32 with a 68-64 victory. Mark Few’s team never got ahead of the number and failed to cover as a 13-point favorite. Down by three with 17 ticks remaining, UNC Greensboro’s Francis Alonso was whistled for a questionable offensive foul, but the Bulldogs’ Rui Hachimura missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity to give the Spartans one last chance. Marvin Smith’s potential tying three was off the mark, though, and Norvell made one free throw to put the game on ice.

-- Johnathan Williams was the catalyst against the Spartans, producing 19 points, and 13 rebounds on 8-of-12 field-goal attempts. Josh Perkins added 16 points and Norvell finished with 15 on 7-of-8 shooting from the free-throw line.

-- Williams leads Gonzaga in scoring (13.7 points per game), rebounding (8.4 RPG) and blocked shots (1.1 BPG). Perkins (12.5 PPG) paces the Bulldogs in assists (5.3 APG), steals (1.2 SPG) and is second in 3-point accuracy (40.4%), while Killian Tillie averages 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and makes 48.9 percent of his treys.

-- Gonzaga is 12th in the nation in scoring (84.0 PPG) and seventh in field-goal percentage (50.1%). The Bulldogs are ranked 22nd in the country in FG percentage defense (40.6%) and 48th in scoring ‘D’ (67.0 PPG).

-- Gonzaga is 11-3 in its past 14 NCAA Tournament games with the only defeats coming against North Carolina, Duke and Syracuse. The Bulldogs are attempting to make their third Sweet 16 in four seasons after they went five straight years (2010-14) without tasting a region semifinal.

-- Ohio State (25-8 SU, 15-16 ATS) advanced to the Round of 32 by pulling away late for an 81-73 victory over a very game South Dakota State squad. The 154 points climbed ‘over’ the 148.5-point total, while bets on the side resulted in pushes with the Buckeyes closing as eight-point favorites at most spots. The game was tied with 1:53 remaining before Chris Holtmann’s squad finished with an 11-3 run. Keita Bates-Diop was the difference, tallying 24 points and 12 rebounds. Kam Williams contributed 22 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists without a turnover, while C.J. Jackson had 20 points, nine boards and five assists. Jackson was good on 4-of-9 launches from downtown.

-- Bates-Diop paces Ohio State in scoring (19.5 PPG), rebounding (8.9 RPG) and blocks (1.6 BPG). Jackson averages 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, while Jae’Sean Tate averages 12.3 points and 6.2 RPG.

-- Ohio State went to four straight Sweet 16’s from 2010-13, but it is just 2-2 in four Tournament games since then.

-- Ohio State owns one national title from 1960. The Buckeyes have been to 11 Final Fours and own a 56-30 record in the program’s 86 all-time NCAA Tournament games.

-- Ohio State is mired in a 1-4-1 ATS slump in its past six games. The Buckeyes have been underdogs seven times this season, going 3-4 both SU and ATS.

-- This is a rematch of a PK80 Invitational first-round game in Portland on Nov. 23. Ohio State will be seeking revenge because it got absolutely obliterated by Gonzaga in an 86-59 loss as a five-point underdog. Williams led the winners with 21 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Perkins added 29 points, four assists, two steals and two rebounds, hitting 6-of-9 attempts from long distance. In the losing effort, Tate and Jackson shared team-best scoring honors with 12 points apiece. Bates-Diop was limited to seven points, 10 rebounds and a pair of blocks.

-- The ‘under’ is 17-15-1 overall for the Bulldogs after cashing in their past two outings.

-- The ‘under’ is 21-10 overall for the Buckeyes, but they’ve watched the ‘over’ hit at a 4-1 clip in their past five contests.

-- The winner advances to face the Xavier-FSU/Missouri survivor in the West Region semifinals at Staples Center in Tinseltown.

East Region – Dallas – American Airlines Center
#6 Florida vs. #3 Texas Tech (-2, 133 ½) – 8:40 PM EST – TNT

-- As of late Friday afternoon, most books had Texas Tech (25-9 SU, 13-16 ATS) listed as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 134. Gamblers could take UF to win outright for a +110 return (risk $100 to win $110).

-- Texas Tech advanced to the Round of 32 with a 70-60 non-covering win over Stephen F. Austin as an 11-point favorite. The Red Raiders trailed nearly the entire game and by as many as eight points early in the second half, but they finished the game on a 26-9 run in the final 10:08. Keenan Evans scored 19 of his game-high 23 points after halftime. Evans made all 10 of his FTAs and 6-of-10 shots from the field. The senior guard, who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection, also had six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one blocked shot. Zhaire Smith added 10 points and eight boards.

-- Evans sprained his ankle in mid-February, causing him to miss one game and play fewer minutes in three others. He scored only 12 points in a three-game stretch to pull his scoring average down. Since then, however, Evans has produced 23, 25, 13 and 23 points in the past four games.

-- Evans paces Texas Tech in scoring (17.7 PPG) and assists (3.1 APG), and he also averages 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Jarrett Culver averages 11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He’s buried 40.2 percent of his 3-pointers. Smith averages 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game.

--Texas Tech is 0-4-1 ATS with three outright defeats in its past five games as a single-digit favorite. However, for the season, the Red Raiders are 8-9-1 ATS with five outright losses in 18 games as single-digit ‘chalk.’

-- Chris Beard’s squad is ranked 15th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 64.6 PPG. Texas Tech is 14th in the country in FG percentage ‘D’ (40.3%).

-- Before beating SFA Thursday night, Texas Tech had not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2005 when Bobby Knight’s team lost a heartbreaker to West Virginia in the Sweet 16. The Red Raiders, who are now 8-16 in 24 NCAA Tournament games, have never advanced beyond the Sweet 16 in the program’s history.

-- Since 2006, Florida (21-12 SU, 16-15 ATS) owns a 29-6 record in the NCAA Tournament. Mike White is now 4-1 in the Tournament following Thursday’s 77-62 win over St. Bonaventure as a six-point ‘chalk.’ Egor Koulechov was the catalyst for the Gators, knocking down 4-of-10 launches from downtown. The grad transfer from Rice finished with 20 points and six rebounds, while Jalen Hudson had 16 points. Keith Stone contributed nine points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, and Chris Chiozza added eight points, four rebounds, three steals and 11 assists without a turnover.

-- Florida has been an underdog five times, compiling a 3-2 record both SU and ATS. Both non-covers were by merely one point, as the Gators lost 62-57 at Tennessee as four-point ‘dogs and dropped an 87-84 decision to Duke as two-point puppies. They blew a 10-point lead with four minutes remaining in the loss in Portland to the Blue Devils.

-- Florida has won four of its past five games both SU and ATS, including scalps of Kentucky, Auburn and Alabama. This surge was preceded by a three-game losing streak that had some pundits implying the Gators were teetering on the bubble. UF blew late leads in two of the defeats, vs. Georgia and at Vandy, and there’s no shame in getting beaten by five in Knoxville this year.

-- Florida has won 10 of 17 games it has played against team that are in the NCAA Tournament field. UF is 6-3 against RPI Top-25 opponents and 10-6 vs. the Top 50. The Gators swept a pair of games from Kentucky, beat Gonzaga in double overtime in Portland and knocked off Cincinnati in Newark, N.J. They also won at Texas A&M, at Missouri and at Alabama.

-- UF’s narrow defeats at Ole Miss and at Vandy were its only L’s to teams outside of the RPI Top 85.

-- Texas Tech went 4-1 against the RPI Top 25, 6-5 versus the Top 50 and 14-8 against the Top 100. The Red Raiders’ only bad loss came at Iowa St.

-- The ‘under’ is on a 9-3 run for UF in its past 12 games to improve to 17-14 overall.

-- The ‘under’ is 17-13 overall for the Red Raiders after hitting in back-to-back outings.

-- The winner advances to the East Region semifinals to take on the survivor of Butler vs. Purdue.

West Region – Wichita – Intrust Bank Arena
#6 Houston vs. #3 Michigan (-11, 148) – 9:40 PM EST – TBS

-- As of late Friday afternoon, most books had Michigan (29-7 SU, 23-11 ATS) listed as a three-point favorite with a total of 134. The Cougars were +135 on the money line (risk $100 to win $135).

-- John Beilein’s team has won 10 consecutive games while going 9-1 ATS and hasn’t tasted defeat since losing at Northwestern on Feb. 6. The Wolverines have won seven of those 10 games by double-digit margins and nine by at least nine points. They captured a 61-47 win over Montana on Thursday to take the money as 10-point ‘chalk.’ Charles Matthews led his team past the Big Sky champs by scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman added 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.

-- Michigan has been a single-digit favorite 14 times this season, compiling a 9-5 spread record with only three outright losses.

-- Michigan has an extremely balanced offense with six players averaging 6.4 PPG. Mo Wagner is averaging team-highs in scoring (14.3 PPG), rebounding (7.1 RPG) and FG percentage (52.6%). Wagner also hits 40.0 percent of his treys but he’s prone to get into foul trouble. Matthews averages 12.8 points and 5.6 RPG, while Abdur-Rahkman (12.6 PPG) is splashing the nets at a 39.2 percent clip from 3-point land and has an incredible 118/26 assist-to-turnover ratio. Duncan Robinson (9.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG) is one of the nation’s best sixth men who makes 38.9 percent of his 3-balls and 89.3 percent of his FTs.

-- Michigan is 12-4 in its last 16 NCAA Tournament games dating back to 2013.

-- From 1982-84 under the leadership of the late Guy Lewis, Houston (27-7 SU, 18-11 ATS) went 12-3 in 15 NCAA Tournament games. UH went to three straight Final Fours and lost consecutive national-title games to N.C. St. and Georgetown in ’83 and ’84, respectively. The Cougars had not tasted a Tournament victory since beating Virginia (the year after Ralph Sampson graduated) 49-47 in the ’84 national semifinals at the Kingdome in Seattle until Thursday night. The five-game losing streak in NCAA Tournament games that spanned 34 years for UH finally ended in a 67-65 win over San Diego St.

-- Kelvin Sampson’s club failed to cover the number in the narrow victory over the Aztecs as a 4.5-point ‘chalk.’ Rob Gray stole the show for Houston by dropping 39 points on San Diego St. Gray, who averages 19.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, drained 12-of-25 FGAs, 4-of-6 treys and 11-of-15 FTs. He also had eight rebounds. Devin Davis added nine points and nine boards.

-- Houston has a 5-2 spread record with four outright wins in seven games as an underdog.

-- UH is 18th in the RPI Rankings, posting a 3-2 record versus the RPI Top 25, a 7-2 mark against the Top 50 and a 10-3 ledger vs. the Top 100. The Cougars have neutral-court wins over Providence and Wichita St., in addition to home triumphs over the likes of Arkansas, Temple, Wichita St. and Cincinnati.

-- Devin Davis (10.7 PPG) averages team-bests in rebounding (6.2 RPG) and FG percentage (49.4%). Corey Davis Jr. is scoring at a 13.4 PPG clip and has an 84/49 assist-to-turnover ratio. He also leads the Cougars in 3-point accuracy by knocking down 43.0 percent of his launches from distance.

-- The ‘under’ is 17-13 overall for the Cougars.

-- The ‘over’ is 5-1-2 in Michigan’s past eight games, but it has watched the ‘under’ go 17-15-2 overall.

-- The winner advances to the West Region semifinals to face the UNC-Texas A&M winner at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Best Bets
March 16, 2018

Saturday NCAA Tournament Best Bets – Round of 32

Thursday marks the day where conference tournament action all across the country really starts to resemble what the first two days of the NCAA tournament look like for fans with games all day for a good 12 hours. All of that action can bring plenty of profitable betting opportunities to help you grow your bankroll, so let's take a look at what I'm investing in early in the day.

Sixteen teams managed to get through the first Thursday of the NCAA tournament and now they are all looking to get through the first weekend with one more win. A win on Saturday gives them a Sweet 16 appearance and what happens after that is anybody's guess. But the focus for these clubs is all about a quick turnaround, consume as much film on your opponent as you can, and hopefully execute at a high level again on Saturday.

With that being said and odds slowly coming out today for Saturday's games, let's get to two games I don't think you should wait to get down on.

Best Bet #1: Kansas -4.5

I'm not sure if this is going to be a recurring pattern in this NCAA tournament for as long as the Kansas Jayhawks remain alive, but this line looks like huge disrespect to a #1 seed at first glance. Yes, I saw Kansas struggle for much of the first half against Penn in Round 1, and I know that Seton Hall comes from the highly touted Big East, but this number is easily too short by probably two points.

Comparing the Villanova/Alabama game on Saturday to this Kansas/Seton Hall tilt is apples to oranges, but when one of those #1 seeds is laying double-digits and the other is here at -4.5, there is some overvaluing or undervaluing going on. The common denominator in those two games (aside from two #1 seeds being involved) is the fact that Villanova and Seton Hall are Big East schools and for whatever reason(s), schools from that conference continue to get propped up on too high of a pedestal.

Talking heads always speak to the talent and depth of the Big East, but when they all came out and made their bracket picks, practically no one gave any sort of respect to #1 Xavier, and while Villanova did get some love to go all the way by some, there is just too much contradictory thoughts being spewed out about the Big East in this tournament.

Without question Kansas has likely heard some of those thoughts on how Big East teams are so good and will probably have someone let them know how disrespected they are getting with a short point spread like this as a #1 seed in a 1 vs 8 matchup.

The Jayhawks woke up in the second half vs Penn to ultimately cover a -13.5 spread that had been bet down heavily to begin with (another sign of disrespect in their eyes), while Seton Hall shot the lights out against NC State and used their aggressiveness to their benefit. I can tell you one thing though, #8 Seton Hall will not go to the free throw line 39 times (for +12 attempts) against #1 Kansas like they did vs. NC State.

So while all this irrational Big East love continues to rain over this tournament for bettors, I've got no problem backing Kansas at a very short number in a role that nobody is really giving them enough credit for. The Jayhawks are on a 8-0-1 ATS run against teams that have won 60% of their games, 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games, and 20-8 ATS in their last 28 on a neutral floor.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall is just 4-9 ATS after scoring 90+ points in their last outing, as this game could be a very rude awakening for all those Big East “truthers” out there that continue to believe teams from their conference are akin to perfection against a school from any other “lesser” conference.

Best Bet #2: Florida +2

#6 Florida had a slow start in their first round game and now are slight dogs against a #3 Texas Tech team that struggled for the majority of their first round matchup as well. Both teams were able to turn it on late to pull away from their respective opponents, but the Gators being the only one of the two to cover was not lost on this bettor.

Texas Tech really limped into this tournament with a 2-5 SU run entering Thursday's game, but what may be more telling is the fact that they are now on a 0-7-1 ATS run over their last eight games. This is a team that continues to find ways to struggle against lesser competition (the Red Raiders were favored in six of those eight ATS non-wins) and that's going to be a problem for them here.

Ask any Florida player about their results this regular season and they'll probably use the words “inconsistent” and “not up to our standard.” The Gators are a very talented team and had they been a bit more consistent at times this year they would have been seeded probably on the 3 or 4 line.

But the results were what they were and what it gives us is a very talented team as a #6 seed that might get overlooked by many based on that seeding. They've got the size inside to match up with Texas Tech, but where the Gators do have an advantage is with their outside shooting.

That could very well end up being the difference in this game, one I believe the Gators win outright) as these struggles for Texas Tech are not going to go away and will eventually end their season. I'm betting it will be these Florida Gators that are the ones to be the team to do it.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday - Session 2
March 17, 2018

South Region – Boise – Taco Bell Arena
#13 Buffalo vs. #5 Kentucky (-5.5, 156) – 5:15 PM EST – CBS

After their impressively decisive 89-68 upset of Arizona, the Bulls were the talk of the NCAA Tournament. Although Buffalo has since been surpassed by UMBC as the new darling following their historic upset of Virginia, finally becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1, the MAC champs would be able to steal back some of the spotlight by reaching the Sweet 16 with a win over college basketball's most storied programs.

UB head coach Nate Oats has refused to call his team the underdog and went on national television with a halftime edge and said his team could and would come out and do more. He was proven correct when they took apart Arizona and Sean Miller could come up with no answers, but he provided some bulletin board material for Kentucky afterward.

"(John) Calipari’s been whining about no experience — young, young, young," Oats said. "Well, we don’t have that problem. We got some veteran guys."

"When I said Calipari was whining about freshmen, that was maybe a misuse of the word," Oats clarified on Friday. "He’s a pretty dang good coach, but he has made note of the fact he has been very young all year, which is just a fact. It is what it is, and he’s right. "We’re experienced they’re inexperienced. It is what it is. It’s facts. I’m going to tell them they’re not freshmen? They are freshmen. Just like Cal’s been saying."

Oats went on to state that the same rationale he shared with his Bulls as to why they shouldn't fear DeAndre Ayton-led Arizona applies here. His guys are older. They're grown men. Kentucky is one of the youngest teams in the country, playing seven freshmen, two sophomores and zero seniors, while his Bulls are led by a graduate transfer who started playing at Missouri in 2013 in addtion to four juinors who play major minutes.

The Bulls will go into this game firmly believing they can pull off another shocker against an opponent from a major league despite going 0-4 during the regular season against Cincinnati, St. Bonaventure, Syracuse and Texas A&M.

For a little while last month, it appeared that Kentucky's run of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under John Calipari would end at four due to a four-game losing streak in SEC play. Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Auburn, all of whom went on to reach the Big Dance, took turns taking down Big Blue Nation in a stretch that Calipari has called vital to getting his team's attention and opening their eyes and ears. He's stated that they realized they needed him and his coaching, which led to a 7-1 finish and an SEC Tournament title.

The Wildcats held off Davidson 78-73 in the first round, holding on to cover despite surrendering a couple of cosmetic 3-pointers from their opponents since they closed as a 4.5-point favorite at many spots. UK did a fantastic job on their opposition's top scorers, holding Peyton Aldridge and Kellen Grady to 8-for-31 shooting.

Kentucky persevered despite shooting 0-for-5 from 3-point range, living at the free-throw line, where they imposed their will physically and made the most of 32 attempts, knocking down 26. SEC Tournament MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed up a 29-point, 7-rebound effort in the SEC Tournament championship against Tennessee with a 19-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist, 5-steal game in the first round of the NCAAs. Forward Kevin Knox led the 'Cats with 25 points against Davidson. If he's hitting from the perimeter, he's unguardable.

Wes Clark, the aforementioned Mizzou transfer, made 10 of his 14 shots, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range, to lead Buffalo with 25 points and seven assists, while wings Jeremy Harris and CJ Massinburg combined to score 42. The Bulls connected on 15-for-30 from beyond the arc but can't realistically expect similar success.

Kentucky excels at preventing teams from getting comfortable from 3-point range, ranking 10th in the country in percentage allowed. It has won and covered in eight of its last nine games. The over is 8-1 in those contests.

Whether it can pull off another upset remains to be seen, but don't expect Buffalo to be intimidated or Oats to back down from telling you and his players how he really feels. Apparently, that extends to refs too, since he divulged that late in the Arizona win, "I told the ref, 'If we score here, I'm calling timeout to gets subs in. I don't want anyone to get hurt in the last minute. We got a chance to beat Kentucky!"

Buffalo has won seven straight games, last losing 84-81 at Miami (Ohio). The Bulls have won every games since by double-figures, covering on six of seven occasions, including five straight. The Bulls are 2-3 in games where they come in as an underdog, but are 4-1 ATS. They'll look to harass the Wildcats into turnovers with their ball pressure and look to prove their coach right by taking advantage of their experience against a team loaded with phenoms. Although Big Blue Nation travels better than most fan bases, Boise is far enough away from Lexington that it doesn't pack the same punch, further opening the door for an underdog to be adopted by locals.

South Region – Dallas – American Airlines Center
#11 Loyola-Chicago vs. #3 Tennessee (-5, 130) – 6:10 PM EST – TNT

Another double-digit seed will look to take down an SEC power in this one, which should tip right as Kentucky and Buffalo are coming out for the second half. With a similar spread, the Horizon League champs are being treated with respect, given a realistic chance to wear the Cinderella tag into the Sweet 16.

Despite closing as just a 1.5-point underdog, Loyola got the full tourney darling treatment due to the manner in which they defeated Miami (FL), getting a Donte Ingram 3-pointer to fall just before the final buzzer to escape 64-62, narrowly avoiding a defeat. The Hurricanes left the door open when Lonnie Walker missed the front end of a one-and-one with less than 10 seconds remaining.

The Ramblers will be looking for their 30th win of the season against the Vols, a team whose physical style they mirror. Loyola shares the ball on offense and locks you up on defense, which is why this total (130) is Saturday's lowest, challenged only by Michigan-Houston.

Tennessee recovered from its SEC championship round loss to Kentucky by trouncing Wright State 73-47, holding the Horizon League regular-season and conference tourney champs to 31.7 percent shooting. The Vols won both halves by double-digits and held Wright State to just 4-for-21 from 3-point range by contesting everything. They owned the glass by a 43-29 count and blocked six shots, dominating despite shooting just 5-for-18 on 3-pointers themselves.

Lamonte Turner scored a game-high 19 points off the bench and is Tennessee's top shooter, but the team relies most on versatile forwards Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, dynamic 6-foot-5 athletes who are each built similarly and create matchup issues for most everybody. They'll certainly provide a challenge the Ramblers don't run into often in the Horizon League.

Loyola-Chicago is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985, filling Valparaiso's shoes as the Horizon League's new power following the Crusaders' departure for the Missouri Valley. The Ramblers have won 18 of 19 games since Iowa State transfer Clayton Custer returned from an ankle injury that cost him a few games entering the calendar year.

Custer, a talented shooter and distributor, was rewarded for playing his role as the point guard and leader by earning the Larry Bird Trophy that the MVC gives its MVP. He played with the league's Defensive Player of the Year, shooting guard Ben Richardson, way back in grade school.

Freshman center Cameron Krutwig is a 260-pound load inside, while 6-foot-5 power forward Aundre Jackson will be tasked with helping him deal with Williams and Schofield. Ingram, a 6-foot-6 senior wing from Chicago who led the balanced Ramblers in rebounding, is also likely to be adriving force. Five Loyola players averaged double-figures in points this season.

Loyola has seen the under prevail in six consecutive games and share a few opponents in common with Tennessee, beating Wright State to start its season in addition to a Dec. 6 upset of Florida in Gainesville. The Ramblers are 2-1 against foes from Top-10 leagues, beating the 'Canes and Gators while being blown out by Boise State.

Rick Barnes' Vols are a perfect 6-0 against teams from non-power conferences. The under has prevailed in six of Tennessee's last eight games.It survived an 0-for-6 shooting start to cruise against Wright State.

Midwest Region – Wichita – Intrust Bank Arena
#8 Seton Hall vs. #1 Kansas (-4.5, 154) – 7:10 PM EST – TBS

The Jayhawks have been playing short-handed for most of the month, so they're looking forward to having a full roster in place as they try and avoid an upset against a talented, experienced team out of the Big East.

Udoka Azubuike, Kansas' top rebounder and primary enforcer, missed the Big 12 Tournament title run with a knee injury that forced the team to play small. He played just three minutes in a first-round win over Penn, but head coach Bill Self said he's counting on his center to give him 15-to-20 minutes against Angel Delgado and the Pirates. There are no Cinderella stories to be had here, even if the Pirates are able to pull off an upset. They're a heavyweight, led by dynamic veterans that include Delgado, one of the nation's top rebounders and the leading board-grabber in Big East history.

Seton Hall was ranked nationally to open 2017-18 and won nine of its first 10 games. Among the Pirates' early victims were Texas Tech and Indiana, and they were solid in opening Big East play, improving to 14-2 with a road win at Butler on Jan. 6 before inconsistency threatened to derail their season.

Inconsistency, injuries and suspect free-throw shooting contributed to losses in seven of 10 between Jan. 9-Feb. 14, which included a season-long four-game losing streak that threatened to derail the team's NCAA Tournament aspirations.

Besides Delgado, whose skills on the offensive glass are second to none among those left in these NCAAs, the Pirates can count on wing Desi Rodriguez (17.9 ppg), shooter Myles Powell (15.5) and point guard Khadeen Carrington (15.2), who is as capable as any of the elite floor generals in the Big 12 when he's right.

Over his last five games, Carrington has averaged 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and has shot 45 percent from 3-point range. He can be as dangerous a difference-maker in this matchup as Delgado.

Kansas has a different look than last season, where it count on the leadership of one of the top point guards in school history in Frank Mason in addition to the exploits of lottery lock Josh Jackson, who ended up being selected fourth by Phoenix. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular-season title again and improved on last year's exit in the conference tourney by winning in Kansas City this year, but it remains to be seen whether they can again reach an Elite Eight.

The Jayhawks won their first three NCAA Tournament games last season by a combined 90 points and cruised past Penn in the first round this year, but this game against Seton Hall will provide a better indication of just how much to expect from this less talented group.

Devonte Graham is the unquestioned sneior leader, averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 assists to help fill Mason's shoes, but there's no one of Jackson's class on this roster. Instead, head coach Bill Self is forced to rely upon the shooting of senior Svi Mykhailuk, sophomore Malik Newman and junior Lagerald Vick. KU isn't particularly deep, illustrated by their use of lightly regarded Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio DeSousa in the 7-foot Azubuike's absence. Azubuike averaged 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 77.4 percent from the field, so if he's truly back, it would be a game-changer.

While not mentioned above with Seton Hall's double-digit scorers, senior Ishmael Sanogo qualifies as a true x-factor after a 10-point, 10-rebound effort in the 94-83 win over N.C. State. His presence gives Kevin Willard a fourth senior tor rely on. Not wanting your career to end can be a major motivating factor in this type of setting.

Seton Hall is 4-4 as an underdog this season and will have to overcome a KU-friendly crowd in Wichita. The Pirates were 5-5 in true road games, but did win at Butler, Louisville and Providence. The over has prevailed in nine of their last 11 games.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round betting preview: Midwest Region

Grayson Allen had 16 points and nine assists in Thursday's win over Iona and is averaging 20.7 points over his last six NCAA Tournament games for the Blue Devils.

(7) Rhode Island Rams vs (2) Duke Blue Devils (-9.5, 149.5)

Game to be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island pulled off one of the more thrilling victories in the first full day of action in the NCAA Tournament and they have a chance for their first Sweet 16 berth in 20 years. To get there, the seventh-seeded Rams will need to find a way to slow down No. 2 Duke and standout freshman Marvin Bagley III when the teams meet in the second round of the Midwest Region on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The Rams squeaked past Oklahoma 83-78 in overtime on Thursday behind E.C. Matthews (16 points), Jared Terrell (13, five assists) and clutch defense to win a tournament game for the second straight season under coach Dan Hurley. "Our program is built around defense and making our opponent uncomfortable," Hurley - whose brother, Bobby, starred at Duke under coach Mike Krzyzewski - told reporters after the victory. "You win championships, you advance in this tournament, you build programs around being a good-to-great defensive team and by being one of the hardest-playing teams in the country." Not many teams have made Bagley feel uncomfortable and the likely one-and-done forward had no issue slicing up Iona on Thursday, recording 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting to lead the Blue Devils to an 89-67 rout. Three others scored at least 16 points for Duke, which shot 53.7 percent from the floor while opening the tourney with a win for the fourth straight time.

TV: 2:40 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as 10-point chalk and money coming in on Rhode Island pushed that line to 9.5 at most books. The total hit betting boards at 150 and has been bet down slightly to 149.5.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT RHODE ISLAND: Fatts Russell came off the bench to shine opposite fellow freshman Trae Young, the Sooners star who led the nation in scoring and assists, while finishing with 15 points in 21 minutes. "I told him when I recruited him: The only point guard I saw better than him at the Peach Jam last year was Trae Young, and he told me I was wrong about that and he was going to prove me wrong today," Hurley said of Terrell. "And he put on a show." Cyril Langevine posted his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Terrell - who averaged 13.5 points and three steals in two tourney games last season - played 39 turnover-free minutes.

ABOUT DUKE: Bagley has often shared the freshman spotlight with fellow forward Wendell Carter Jr., who had nine points and eight boards but has been bothered by a sore Achilles since the ACC Tournament. Guard Trevon Duval, another of the Blue Devils' heralded freshmen, chipped in 19 points and eight assists as he wrestles with an ankle ailment, but any number of maladies can be rendered moot when Bagley dominates the way he did. "I woke up and felt a little anxious," Bagley told the media. "I was just anxious to play. When the first game came on, I was watching it a little bit until we left the hotel. From there it was time to lock in."

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Blue Devils are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 9-1 in Blue Devils last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 57 percent of bettors taking the underdogs from Rhode Island, while 66 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.




(8) Seton Hall Pirates vs (1) Kansas Jayhawks (-4.5, 154)

Game to be played at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Top-seeded Kansas was forced to fight through a difficult first-round game and hopes to use that experience to get off to a better start when it takes on No. 8 seed Seton Hall on Saturday in the Midwest Region quarterfinal at Wichita, Kan. The Jayhawks trailed by as much as 10 in the first half Thursday and grinded out a 76-60 victory over Pennsylvania to survive and advance.

“There’s always that pressure like, ‘You can’t lose to a 16-seed,” Kansas senior guard Devonte’ Graham told reporters after scoring 29 points. “So instead of just going out and playing loose, you’re going out and playing not to lose to the 16 seed. I feel we came out the first 10 minutes doing that. … Coach always says that’s the hardest game. You can’t win two without winning the first one.” The Jayhawks have won nine of their last 10 and things will get more difficult against the experienced Pirates, who outlasted North Carolina State 94-83 in the first round Thursday. Seton Hall matches Kansas with four players averaging at least 13 points and its seniors have won 84 games, including their first in the NCAA Tournament Thursday after losing in the previous two opening rounds. “Our main focus was staying focused,” Pirates senior guard Khadeen Carrington told reporters. “I know that sounds funny, but the last two years we came here, the guys were kind of drained mentally. We couldn’t get over the hump. Guys came in real focused, real businesslike, and we’re not done yet.”

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

LINE HISTORY: Kansas opened as 4-point favorites and heavy betting action on the Jayhawks pushed that line quickly up to 4.5. The total hit betting boards at 153.5 and has been bet up slightly to an even 154.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT SETON HALL: Carrington led the way with 26 points in the victory over N.C State and is averaging 23 over the last six games to push his season mark to 15.2 - third on the team. Senior forward Desi Rodriguez added 20 on Thursday and leads the team in scoring overall (17.9) while sophomore Myles Powell (15.5) added 19 points and nine rebounds in the first round. Senior center Angel Delgado, who averages 13.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 50.1 percent shooting, will be key inside for the Pirates.

ABOUT KANSAS: The Jayhawks hope to get more than three minutes out of sophomore center Udoka Azubuike (13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 77.4 percent field goal shooting) in the second round after the 7-0 Nigerian missed the Big 12 Tournament with a knee injury. His presence inside opens up the outside for Graham (17.6 points, 7.4 assists) and senior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (15.0), who have combined to make 209 from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Malik Newman averaged 24 points in the Big 12 Tournament, but had just 10 versus Penn.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Pirates are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
* Jayhawks are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 7-1-1 in Pirates last 9 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 6-1 in Jayhawks last 7 games following a ATS win.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 65 percent of bettors taking the favorites from Kansas, while 65 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round betting preview: East Region

Alabama has not reached the Sweet 16 since advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in 2004.

(9) Alabama Crimson Tide vs (1) Villanova Wildcats (-11, 148)

Game to be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Villanova looked every bit the part of a No. 1 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats aim for an encore performance Saturday when they take on ninth-seeded Alabama in the Round of 32 at Pittsburgh.

The Wildcats topped No. 16 Radford 87-61 on Thursday as the team shot nearly 60 percent from the floor and over 51 percent from 3-point range. That sets up a key game for Villanova, which has lost in the second round in four of its last seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including last year to Wisconsin. “When you are consistently a high seed, that means two things,” coach Jay Wright said. “It means your players have consistently played well for quite a while. It also means the expectations you face are always going to be very high." Alabama snuck past No. 8 seed Virginia Tech in its NCAA opener as talented freshman Collin Sexton registered 21 of his 24 points in the second half.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Villanova opened as 11-point chalk and that number has yet to move. The total hit betting boards at 148 and like the pointspread remains at the opening number. Check out the complete line history here.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT ALABAMA: The Crimson Tide overcame 17 turnovers and nine missed foul shots by shooting 60 percent from the floor in Thursday's 86-83 triumph over the Hokies. John Petty helped Sexton by draining 6-of-8 3-pointers - he's 11-of-17 from the arc over the last two games - while Donta Hall was 5-of-5 from the field in Thursday's win. Sexton averages 19.2 points and has surpassed that average in five straight games with all of those performances coming against teams that are seeded eighth or better in the NCAA Tournament.

ABOUT VILLANOVA: Eight players for Villanova scored between seven and 16 points in the opening-round win, led by Jalen Brunson (16), who shot 7-of-9 from the floor and is shooting 60.3 percent over the last five outings. Mikal Bridges added 13 points and has made at least three 3-pointers in nine straight games, shooting at least 50 percent from the arc in seven of those contests. One minor concern for the Wildcats is the scoring production from versatile guard Donte DiVincenzo, who had seven points against Radford and is 9-of-28 from the field over the last four outings.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Crimson Tide are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big East.
* Wildcats are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games.
* Over is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 games following a straight up win.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 67 percent of bettors taking the favorties from Villanova, while 65 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.




(6) Florida Gators vs (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders (-2, 134)

Game to be played at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Sixth-seeded Florida will need another strong defensive performance Saturday when it faces third-seeded Texas Tech in the second round of the East Region in Dallas. The Red Raiders will have plenty of offense, a tough defense and a home-atmosphere just five hours from their campus.

The Gators scored 25 points off 18 turnovers - including five quick turnovers to start the second half - to pull away from St. Bonaventure on Thursday. "That's what got us going," senior guard Chris Chiozza said. "We got some stops early in the second half and we got out running and got some easy baskets in transition and we just kind of built momentum from there, and was able to maintain it for most of the second half." Chiozza and junior guard KeVaughn Allen were credited for slowing the Bonnies' talented guards and will have another test against Texas Tech senior guard Keenan Evans and company. The Red Raiders have scored at least 70 points in 13 of their past 15 games after rallying past Stephen F. Austin.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, TNT.

LINE HISTORY: Texas Tech opened as 1.5-point favorites and has been bet up slightly to an even 2. The total hit betting boards at 134 and has yet to move off the opening number.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT FLORIDA: Junior guard Jalen Hudson leads four Gators in double figures with 15.3 points while graduate transfer guard Egor Koulechov adds 13.8 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds. Chiozza (11.1 points) had 11 assists Thursday to push his season average to 6.2 assists and leads the team with 1.9 steals. Allen also averages 11.1 points for the Gators, who rank seventh nationally as of Thursday with 9.8 turnovers lost.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH: Evans leads the Red Raiders with 17.7 points and 3.2 assists and has scored at least 20 in three of his past four games. Freshmen guards Jarrett Culver (11.5 points) and Zhaire Smith (11.1 points) and senior guard Niem Stevenson (7.5 points) add to the Red Raiders' balanced attack. The Red Raiders (plus-4.4 rebound margin) have eight players average at least 3.0 rebounds and force 15.1 turnovers.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Gators are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Red Raiders are 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Gators last 7 non-conference games.
* Under is 6-1 in Red Raiders last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 62 percent of bettors taking the favorites from Texas Tech, while 59 percent of totals wagers are on the Under.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round betting preview: West Region

Gonzaga shot 58.5 percent, including making 12-of-25 3-pointers, while the Buckeyes shot a season-low 34.5 percent while cruising to an 86-59 win at the PK80 Invitational in November.

(5) Ohio State Buckeyes vs (4) Gonzaga Bulldogs (-9.5, 149.5)

Game to be played at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho.

Gonzaga and Ohio State passed their tough tests Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Now they go head-to-head Saturday night in Boise, Idaho, with a West Regional Sweet 16 berth on the line.

Against UNC Greensboro, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs squandered a 12-point second-half lead and trailed 64-62 with 1:48 remaining. But guard Josh Perkins knotted things up with a long jumper and then redshirt-freshman Zach Norvell Jr. drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 20.8 seconds left to secure Gonzaga’s 10th straight first-round NCAA tourney win and its 15th straight victory overall. In the following game Thursday at Taco Bell Arena, the fifth-seeded Buckeyes also saw a double-digit lead (13 points) slip away in the second half against a formidable South Dakota State squad. But after the Jackrabbits had pulled even at 70 with 1:53 remaining, Ohio State senior guard Kam Williams scored the game’s next seven points, starting with a go-ahead 3-pointer, to help secure the Buckeyes’ first Big Dance victory since 2015.

TV: 7:45 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Gonzaga opened as 2.5-point chalk which wasn't high enough for bettors and has been bet up to 3. The total hit the board at 144 and money coming in on the under saw that line drop to 143 at most shops. Check out the complete line history here.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes continue to impress under first-year coach Chris Holtmann as they seek their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2013. Williams, fellow guard C.J. Jackson and forward Keita Bates-Diop, the Big Ten Player of the Year, combined for 66 of the team’s 81 points against South Dakota State, and added 26 rebounds, eight assists and four steals as Ohio State grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points. After his 24-point, 12-rebound showing Saturday in his NCAA tourney debut, the 6-7 Bates-Diop is averaging 19.5 points and 8.9 boards overall, and the Buckeyes are 12-1 when the junior notches a double-double.

ABOUT GONZAGA: The Bulldogs also benefitted from an individual double-double Thursday as senior forward Johnathan Williams notched his fourth straight with 19 points and 13 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting. Perkins (16 points) and Norvell (15) also scored in double figures against UNC Greensboro, helping Gonzaga overcome poor shooting outings from 3-point range (5-of-23) and the free-throw stripe (13-of-25). The Bulldogs’ 68 points matched their lowest total in a game this season, and they rank 12th nationally with 84.0 points per outing with six players averaging at least 9.4, led by Williams (13.7), forward Killian Tillie (13.1) and Perkins (12.5).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 8-2 in Buckeyes last 10 neutral site games.
* Under is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 74 percent of bettors taking the favorties from Gonzaga, while 51 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.




(6) Houston Cougars vs (3) Michigan Wolverines (-3, 134)

Game to be played at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Third-seeded Michigan looks to shut down No. 6 seed Houston in the second round of the West Regional on Thursday in Wichita. The Wolverines allowed the third-fewest points in their NCAA Tournament history in the 61-47 win over No. 14 seed Montana on Thursday and hope to reach 30 wins for the first time since 2012-13 by putting the defensive clamps on the Cougars, who have scored at least 80 points in five of their last nine outings.

"I'm happy we got the first one down," Michigan forward Moritz Wagner told reporters. "The show goes on and Houston is a really good team… so it's going to be a heck of a challenge." Houston rode Rob Gray's hot hand to a thrilling 67-65 win against 11th-seeded San Diego State on Thursday to earn their first NCAA Tournament victory in 34 years. Gray exploded for a career-high 39 points against the Aztecs, including the go-ahead layup with 1.1 seconds remaining in the game, and hopes to lead the Cougars to their first Sweet 16 appearance since the days of Phi Slamma Jamma in 1983-84."I just wanted to come through for us," Gray told reporters. "I was thinking to myself, I'm a senior, I've never been in March Madness and this is what I live for."

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

LINE HISTORY: Michigan opened as 3-point favorites and that number has yet to move. The total hit betting boards at 134 and like the spread remains at the opening number.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT HOUSTON: Gray went 4-of-6 from 3-point range en route to his career high in points and pulled down eight rebounds to finish as the lone Cougar in double figures against San Diego State. Devin Davis flirted with a double-double as he added nine points and nine rebounds while Corey Davis Jr. also scored nine points in the win against the Aztecs. "It means a lot to our program especially sitting next to Coach (Kelvin) Sampson," Davis said. He's a big part of why I'm here and Rob's a big part too and we survived to play another day."

ABOUT MICHIGAN: Charles Matthews, who has been battling consistency issues for the last two months, led the way with 20 points and matched his career high with 11 rebounds in the win against Montana to notch his fourth double-double of the season. Muhammad-Ali Abdur Rahkman overcame a sluggish start to finish with 11 points, five rebounds and two steals as the Wolverines held the Grizzlies to 32.1 percent shooting. Wagner, who leads the team in scoring (14.3), was limited to five points on 2-of-6 shooting while Jaaron Simmons tallied six points deputizing for Zavier Simpson, who was plagued by foul trouble in the first half.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Cougars are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Wolverines are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
* Over is 5-1 in Cougars last 6 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 6-1-1 in Wolverines last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

CONSENSUS: Covers consensus data is showing 69 percent of bettors taking the favorites from Michigan, while 51 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round betting preview: South Region

The Ramblers won the Missouri Valley Conference have five players averaging in double figures scoring and need one victory to set a program record - passing the 1962-63 team that won an NCAA title.

(13) Buffalo Bulls vs (5) Kentucky Wildcats (-6, 158)

Game to be played at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho.

Two days after recording its biggest win in program history, No. 13 seed Buffalo looks to upset another perennial power Saturday when the Bulls face No. 5 seed Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament South Region in Boise, Idaho. Buffalo stunned fourth-seeded Arizona 89-68 on Thursday while Kentucky advanced with a 78-73 victory over Davidson.

Buffalo hardly looked overwhelmed against national player of the year candidate freshman Deandre Ayton and Arizona, which had a huge size advantage but was outrebounded by one and failed to contain the Bulls’ perimeter game. Senior guard Wes Clark scored a team-high 25 points to lead the Bulls, who made 15-of-30 three-point shots and shot 54.8 percent overall. “We got a lot of blue collar guys, guys who come to work every day,” forward Nick Perkins told reporters. “Not that we’re the most skilled guys or guys who are first in the NBA draft or stuff like that. We just got guys who come to work every day and are consistent in what they do.” The Bulls will look for a repeat performance against Kentucky, which defeated Tennessee in the SEC Tournament championship game and scored 36 points in the paint against Davidson.

TV: 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Villanova opened as 6-point chalk and that number has held firm. The total hit betting boards at 188 and like the spread remains at the opening number. Check out the complete line history here.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT BUFFALO: Perkins has averaged 19.3 points off the bench over his last 11 games for the Bulls, who rank sixth in the country in scoring at 84.9 points per game. The Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament champions are riding a seven-game winning streak and boast a veteran trio of proven scorers in Clark, Jeremy Harris and CJ Massinburg. The three guards combined for 67 points in the win over Arizona and helped limit the Wildcats to 2-of-18 shooting from beyond the arc.

ABOUT KENTUCKY: Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals in the win over Davidson and has 20 assists against seven turnovers in his last four games. The Wildcats were held without a 3-pointer for the first time since 1988 and instead focused on the interior, where forward Kevin Knox took control with 25 points and six rebounds while shooting 9-of-11 from the foul line. Freshman forward PJ Washington averages 10.6 points on 51.2 percent shooting for the Wildcats, who have held their last four opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Wildcats are 2-0-2 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 9-0 in Wildcats last 9 non-conference games.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 52 percent of bettors taking the favorties from Kentucky, while 56 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.




(11) Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs (3) Tennessee Volunteers (-5.5, 130)

Game to be played at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Third-seeded Tennessee hopes for another workmanlike effort when it takes on No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the South Regional in Dallas. The Volunteers rolled to a 73-47 victory over Wright State in the first round for their seventh victory in eight contests and will try to put an end to Loyola’s 11-game win streak after the Ramblers’ buzzer-beating victory over Miami (Fla.) in the first round.

Tennessee had a big edge on the boards while holding Wright State to 31.7 percent shooting from the field in its first-round victory and will try to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014 when it lost to Michigan by two points. The Volunteers allow 65.8 points per game and Loyola shoots 50.6 percent from the field along with almost 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc overall as the Ramblers try to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1985. Loyola, which owns a victory over Florida early in the season, has won 18 of 19 games after forcing 16 turnovers in the 64-62 victory over Miami (Fla.) in the first round as Dontre Ingram drained a 3-pointer to win it at the buzzer. The Ramblers, which won the Missouri Valley Conference, boast five players averaging in double figures scoring and need one victory to set a program record - passing the 1962-63 team that won an NCAA title.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: Tennessee opened as 6-point chalk and has been bet down slightly to 5.5. The total hit betting boards at 129.5 and money coming in on the over has pushed that number up to an even 130. Check out the complete line history here.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT LOYOLA CHICAGO: The Ramblers are a well-balanced offensive unit as junior guard Clayton Custer leads the way (13.4 points) while draining 52.2 percent from the field and 45.1 from behind the 3-point arc. Ingram finished with 13 points against Miami and scores 11.7 per game along with a team-high 6.5 rebounds while junior guard Marques Townes (11.1) managed just 11 total points in the last two games. Senior forward Aundre Jackson (10.9 points) scored 12 in the victory over Miami and his shooting 57.3 percent from the floor.

ABOUT TENNESSEE: Junior forward Admiral Schofield has led the way of late, averaging 19.7 points over the last seven games, and is second on the team in scoring (13.9) while topping the Volunteers at 6.5 rebounds per contest. Sophomore forward Grant Williams is the go-to-player inside and averages a team-best 15.3 points along with 6.1 rebounds after scoring 14 and grabbing nine boards against Wright State. Sophomore guard Lamonte Turner (10.9 points) is the top threat from long range with 68 3-pointers and collected 19 points and nine assists in the first round win.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Ramblers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Under is 6-0 in Ramblers last 6 overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Volunteers last 7 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 58 percent of bettors taking the favorites from Tennessee, while 53 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAA Tournament's biggest betting mismatches: Second round
Monty Andrews

When Rob Gray and Houston face Michigan, it could come down to which team gets to the foul line more - and if that's the case, the Wolverines have a significant edge.

South Region

(11) Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs. (3) Tennessee Volunteers (-6, 130)

Ramblers' rigid 2-point defense vs. Vols' struggles inside the arc

Are you one of the ramblin' men - or women - who had Loyola-Chicago knocked off the Miami Hurricanes to reach the second round of March Madness? The No. 11 Ramblers were certainly a trendy pick among bracket pickers and bettors alike - but things don't get any easier Saturday as they face the third-seeded Volunteers in second-round action in Dallas. It won't be easy for the Ramblers to execute a second straight upset win, but they have a shot - if they can keep the Vols inside the 3-point line.

Loyola-Chicago did plenty of things right in securing its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in more than three decades - and near the top of the list is being successful at limiting opponents' success on 2-point attempts. The Ramblers held foes to a 46.6-percent rate on 2-point shots, ranking inside the top 50 in the nation. And while they weren't at their best in that regard Thursday - allowing the Hurricanes to go 21-of-40 from inside the arc - they should have better luck against a less offensively gifted Tennessee team.

The Volunteers make their offensive bones from two spots on the court - the free-throw line (75.9 percent, 39th in the nation) and 3-point territory (38.1 percent, 46th). And while the 3s didn't fall in their first-round rout of Wright State (5-for-18), the foul shots did (14-for-16). But Tennessee shot just 47.2 percent from 2-point range in the regular season, good for 283rd in the country. And if that trend continues this weekend, the Volunteers could find themselves as the Ramblers' next victim.

West Region

(6) Houston Cougars vs. (3) Michigan Wolverines (-3, 134)

"Houston, we have a foul problem" vs. Wolverines' elite discipline

Two teams looking for better performances following uninspired first-half showings meet in Wichita on Saturday when the Houston Cougars and Michigan Wolverines face off for a spot in the Sweet 16. The sixth-seeded Cougars escaped with a two-point victory over a game San Diego State team, while the No. 3 Wolverines slogged their way to a 61-47 win against Montana. This one could come down to which team gets to the foul line more - and if that's the case, the Wolverines have a significant edge.

The Cougars come in armed with one of the most formidable defenses in Division I - and that 64.9 points-per-game average against would have been even lower had Houston showed better discipline during the season. Houston averaged a whopping 21.1 personal fouls per game, more than all but 16 other teams. That includes 20 foul-outs, making the Cougars one of only 38 teams to have 20 or more DQs. As a result, Houston allowed an average of 15.8 made foul shots on 22.2 attempts - well outside the top 250.

The Wolverines had no such foul problems during the season - in fact, they were one of the best-behaved teams in the country. Michigan incurred just 15.6 personal fouls per game, ranking 26th in the country; they also had just six disqualifications in 36 games. That discipline showed up in the free throw stats, as Michigan allowed an average of 11.5 made free throws on 16 attempts. That's a major advantage compared to Houston, and could end up being what pushes the Wolverines into the third round.

East Region

(9) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. (1) Villanova Wildcats (-11, 148)

Crimson Tide's free-throw problems vs. Wildcats' dead-eye shooting

The good news for Collin Sexton: He'll have at least one more game in which to show NBA scouts what he can do on the basketball court. The bad news: There's a good chance it'll be his last opportunity, with oddsmakers having made the Alabama Crimson Tide considerable underdogs Saturday against Villanova in second-round action in Dallas. The No. 9 Crimson Tide squeaked out a win over Virginia Tech but will have their hands full with a Wildcats team that does just about everything well.

Alabama's deficiencies start at the free-throw line, where Avery Johnson's crew has been dismal for the majority of the season. The Crimson Tide finished outside the top 300 in the country during the regular season at 67.2 percent and were even less efficient in their tournament opener, missing nine of 27 attempts in a three-point triumph over the Hokies. Four of the team's top six scorers during the season show 70 percent or worse, while Sexton led the way at 77.8 percent.

The Crimson Tide can't hope to keep up with the Wildcats from the foul line. Villanova was sensational from just about everywhere - boasting an incredible 60 percent adjusted field-goal rate while ranking third in actual field-goal percentage (50.7) - and that includes the free-throw stripe, where it connected on 77.2 percent of its attempts, good for 20th overall. The Wildcats extended that hot shooting in their tournament opener vs. Radford (11-of-14), and should have a decided edge in that department vs. Alabama.

Midwest Region

(7) Rhode Island Rams vs. (2) Duke Blue Devils (-9.5, 149.5)

Rams' top-flight TO margin vs. Blue Devils' lack of ball pressure

Duke looked every bit the championship contender in its tournament-opening 89-67 victory over Iona - and is expected to do the same in Round 2 as it faces Rhode Island in Midwest Region action Saturday in Pittsburgh. The Blue Devils will be at or close to a double-digit fave when this one tips off - but the Rams, who defeated Oklahoma in a thrilling first-round encounter, could find a way to keep this one close if they can take advantage of an edge in the turnover department.

For Rhode Island, one of the keys to victory in Thursday's opener was to capitalize on the inevitable turnover barrage Trae Young would provide. And while Young torched the Rams for 28 points, he also had six of Oklahoma's 14 turnovers - and as expected, the Rams dominated the turnover battle by committing just six of their own. Rhode Island's plus-5.2 average turnover margin ranked second in the nation this season, and is a major reason why the Rams are among the final 32 teams standing.

The Blue Devils are a difficult assignment for anyone, but they do have their weaknesses - and turnover margin is one of them. Despite being one of the top teams in the nation yet again, Duke boasted a modest plus-0.7 average turnover ratio in 2017-18 and produced a turnover on just 14.5 percent of opponent possessions - ranking outside the top 275 in Division I. Rhode Island might not be able to run with the Blue Devils, but stealing a few extra possessions could make things interesting.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Saturday, March 17


Rhode Island @ Duke

Game 523-524
March 17, 2018 @ 2:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rhode Island
66.735
Duke
73.318
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Duke
by 6 1/2
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Duke
by 10
150
Dunkel Pick:
Rhode Island
(+10); Under

Alabama @ Villanova

Game 525-526
March 17, 2018 @ 12:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Alabama
67..894
Villanova
75.674
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Villanova
by 8
143
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Villanova
by 11 1/2
148 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Alabama
(+11 1/2); Under

Seton Hall @ Kansas

Game 527-528
March 17, 2018 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Seton Hall
68.737
Kansas
74.352
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas
by 5 1/2
158
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas
by 4
153 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas
(-4); Over

Houston @ Michigan

Game 529-530
March 17, 2018 @ 9:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
70.612
Michigan
76.231
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan
by 5 1/2
139
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan
by 3
133 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Michigan
(-3); Over

Loyola-Chicago @ Tennessee

Game 531-532
March 17, 2018 @ 6:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Loyola-Chicago
67.892
Tennessee
70.756
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Tennessee
by 3
125
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tennessee
by 6
130 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Loyola-Chicago
(+6); Under

Florida @ Texas Tech

Game 533-534
March 17, 2018 @ 8:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida
72.354
Texas Tech
71.298
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida
by 1
128
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Texas Tech
by 2
134 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Florida
(+2); Under

Ohio State @ Gonzaga

Game 535-536
March 17, 2018 @ 7:45 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ohio State
67.563
Gonzaga
73.102
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Gonzaga
by 5 1/2
148
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Gonzaga
by 2 1/2
142 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Gonzaga
(-2 1/2); Over

Buffalo @ Kentucky

Game 537-538
March 17, 2018 @ 5:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Buffalo
65.258
Kentucky
73.412
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kentucky
by 8
160
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kentucky
by 5 1/2
155 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kentucky
(-5 1/2); Over

Penn State @ Notre Dame

Game 539-540
March 17, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Penn State
65.734
Notre Dame
67.297
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Notre Dame
by 1 1/2
134
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Notre Dame
by 5 1/2
140 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Penn State
(+5 1/2); Under

Portland St @ San Diego

Game 547-548
March 17, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Portland St
52.575
San Diego
54.980
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Diego
by 2 1/2
151
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Diego
by 6
157
Dunkel Pick:
Portland St
(+6); Under

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Saturday, March 17

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

RHODE ISLAND (26 - 7) vs. DUKE (27 - 7) - 3/17/2018, 3:00 AM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all games this season.
DUKE is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
DUKE is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season.
DUKE is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
DUKE is 215-159 ATS (+40.1 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
DUKE is 1-0 against the spread versus RHODE ISLAND over the last 3 seasons
DUKE is 1-0 straight up against RHODE ISLAND over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

ALABAMA (20 - 15) vs. VILLANOVA (31 - 4) - 3/17/2018, 12:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ALABAMA is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after scoring 80 points or more this season.
VILLANOVA is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all games this season.
VILLANOVA is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
VILLANOVA is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
VILLANOVA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
VILLANOVA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
VILLANOVA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.
VILLANOVA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in non-conference games this season.
VILLANOVA is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

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

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

SETON HALL (22 - 11) vs. KANSAS (28 - 7) - 3/17/2018, 7:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SETON HALL is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after allowing 80 points or more this season.
KANSAS is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 35-20 ATS (+13.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
SETON HALL is 26-11 ATS (+13.9 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.

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

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

HOUSTON (27 - 7) vs. MICHIGAN (29 - 7) - 3/17/2018, 9:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MICHIGAN is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all games this season.
MICHIGAN is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
MICHIGAN is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
MICHIGAN is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.

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

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

LOYOLA-IL (29 - 5) vs. TENNESSEE (26 - 8) - 3/17/2018, 3:00 AM
Top Trends for this game.
TENNESSEE is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
LOYOLA-IL is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in all games this season.
LOYOLA-IL is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in all lined games this season.
LOYOLA-IL is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LOYOLA-IL is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 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.

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

FLORIDA (21 - 12) vs. TEXAS TECH (25 - 9) - 3/17/2018, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 133-99 ATS (+24.1 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
FLORIDA is 78-50 ATS (+23.0 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 29-49 ATS (-24.9 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games in March games over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS TECH is 29-49 ATS (-24.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 107-140 ATS (-47.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 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.

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

OHIO ST (25 - 8) vs. GONZAGA (31 - 4) - 3/17/2018, 7:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GONZAGA is 153-112 ATS (+29.8 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.

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

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

BUFFALO (27 - 8) vs. KENTUCKY (25 - 10) - 3/17/2018, 5:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENTUCKY is 90-60 ATS (+24.0 Units) in March games since 1997.
BUFFALO is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BUFFALO is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in road games 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.

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

PENN ST (22 - 13) at NOTRE DAME (21 - 14) - 3/17/2018, 12:00 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.

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

PORTLAND ST (20 - 13) at SAN DIEGO (19 - 13) - 3/17/2018, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND ST is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PORTLAND ST is 10-0 ATS (+10.0 Units) in non-conference games this season.
SAN DIEGO is 37-63 ATS (-32.3 Units) in home games on Saturday games since 1997.

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

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, March 17

Last eight years, #1-seeds who covered their 1st round game are 9-7 vs spread in 2nd round, but since 2010, Villanova is 1-4 SU in this round, losing as a #1-seed two of last three years. Wildcats beat SEC’s Tennessee by 9 back in December; Villanova won its last six games; they’re 14-0 outside the Big East (NC sked #59)- they won very easily Thursday. Alabama won three of its last four games after a 5-game skid; they’re #348 experience team, 9-4 outside SEC (#84 NC sked). Tide played only two guys more than 29:00 in Thursday’s 86-83 win over Virginia Tech.

Rhode Island played four starters 34:00+ in OT win over Oklahoma; since 1987, second round underdogs who won their previous game in OT are 12-20 vs spread. URI starts four seniors; they’re 5-6 vs top 100 teams- they lost by 15 to Virginia in only ACC game this year. Duke won eight of its last ten games; since 2010, Blue Devils won five of last six 2nd round games (4-2 vs spread); they got very little resistance in 89-67 win over Iona Thursday. Last three years, ACC teams are 26-13-1 vs spread when playing teams from the Atlantic 14.

Kentucky is least experienced team in country, starting four freshman, one soph; Wildcats won eight of last nine games- they’re 11-2 outside the SEC (NC sked #46), 20-10 vs top 100 teams. Kentucky won six of last seven 2nd round games, but they’re 0-3 vs spread in last three. Buffalo is #149 experience team- they lost by 16 to SEC’s Texas A&M. Bulls won 20 of their last 23 games, are 1-5 vs top 100 teams this season, losing by 6-14-11-7-16 points. SEC teams covered six of last eight games vs MAC squads. Buffalo played three guys 33:00+ in Thursday’s game.

Loyola won its last 11 games and 18 of last 19; they played only two guys more than 29:00 in their upset win over Miami- they outscored ‘canes 9-2 over last 2:46 of game. Ramblers are #132 experience team that plays slow (#314) pace. Tennessee crushed Wright St Thursday; Vols won 7 of last 8 games, are #270 experience team Barnes was 5-5 in 2nd round games at Texas, but lost last three; his last Sweet 16 was 2008. Last three years, SEC teams are 8-5 vs spread when playing MVC opponents; last four years, #3-seeds are 6-10 vs spread in this round.

Kansas won nine of its last ten games; over last 11 years, Jayhawks are 8-3 SU in this round, 6-5 vs spread. Kansas was down 21-11 early vs Penn, but they won fairly easily, played three starters 32:00+. Seton Hall is #55 experience team is 5-6 in its last 11 games; three of their last five games were decided either by 1 point or in OT. Pirates are #57 experience team- they beat Texas Tech of Big X by 1o in Brooklyn last fall- only two of their guys played more than 29:00 vs NC State. Last three years, Big East underdogs are 3-4 against spread when facing a Big X team.

Gonzaga made 12-25 on arc, crushed Ohio State 86-59 at PK80 tourney in Oregon in November; it was 44-31 at half. Zags won last three 2nd round games, after being 0-5 in this round from 2010-14. Gonzaga won its last 15 games overall; they outscored UNCG 6-0 over final 1:21 Thursday to advance. Four Zags played 33:00+. Buckeyes split their last six games; Holtmann was 1-2 in this round while coaching Butler. OSU outscored South Dakota St 11-3 over final 1:40 to advance 81-73. Ohio State is 3-3 vs spread as an underdog. Zags are 9-4 vs top 100 teams.

Texas Tech won three of last four games; they were down 7 Thursday with 10:23 left, but won by 10 for first NCAA win since ’05. Tech played only two guys more than 27:00. Red Raiders are 12-1 outside Big X (NC sked #310). Florida had stress-free win over Bonnies; Gators are 9-4 outside SEC (NC sked #54)- they’ve been in Sweet 16 last five years. Last nine years, favorites are 9-4 vs spread when #’s 3-6 seeds meet in 2nd round; they’ve been only two of those the last three years. Last three years, SEC underdogs are 16-9 vs spread when facing a Big X opponent.

Houston won 11 of last 13 games- they’re #48 experience team that is 11-2 outside AAC (#250 NC sked), 11-4 vs top 100 teams- they’ve got #8 eFG% defense in country. Cougars used couple of guys 36:00+ in 69-67 win over San Diego St- Gray scored 39 of their 67 points. Michigan won ugly 61-47 game Thursday; they’re 13-3 outside Big 14 (#299 NC sked). Wolverines played three guys 32:00+ Thursday; they won/covered three of last four 2nd round games. Last nine years, favorites are 9-4 vs spread when #’s 3-6 seeds meet in 2nd round.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PENN STATE @ NOTRE DAME
Penn State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Penn State is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Notre Dame's last 6 games
Notre Dame is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

ALABAMA @ VILLANOVA
Alabama is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Alabama's last 21 games
Villanova is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Villanova's last 16 games

RHODE ISLAND @ DUKE
Rhode Island is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Rhode Island's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Duke's last 9 games
Duke is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games

BUFFALO @ KENTUCKY
Buffalo is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Buffalo is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Kentucky is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Kentucky is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games

LOYOLA-CHICAGO @ TENNESSEE
Loyola-Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Loyola-Chicago's last 5 games
Tennessee is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tennessee's last 8 games

SETON HALL @ KANSAS
Seton Hall is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Seton Hall's last 11 games
Kansas is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
Kansas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

OHIO STATE @ GONZAGA
Ohio State is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ohio State's last 5 games
Gonzaga is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Gonzaga's last 6 games

FLORIDA @ TEXAS TECH
Florida is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas Tech's last 7 games
Texas Tech is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games

HOUSTON @ MICHIGAN
Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Houston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Michigan is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games

PORTLAND STATE @ SAN DIEGO
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland State's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland State's last 5 games
San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland State
San Diego is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, MARCH 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

ALA at VILL 12:10 PM
VILL -11.5
O 148.5

URI at DUKE 02:40 PM
URI +9.5
U 148.5

BUFF at UK 05:15 PM
BUFF +6.0
O 155.0

L-IL at TENN 06:10 PM
L-IL +5.5
U 130.5

[StarDust Bum]

EVENING BEST BETS:

HALL at KU 07:10 PM
KU -4.5
O 154.5

OSU at GONZ 07:45 PM
GONZ -4.0
U 143.5

FLA at TTU 08:40 PM
FLA +1.5
U 134.0

HOU at MICH 09:40 PM
MICH -3.5
O 135.5

PRST at USD 10:00 PM
USD -6.5
O 156.5