When Virginia became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed back in 2018, the Cavaliers responded the next season by winning the national championship. The #1 Purdue Boilermakers, who fell to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson last season as a one-seed, are now two wins away from doing the same.

A 72-66 win over #2 Tennessee on Sunday in the Midwest Regional final put the Boilermakers into their first Final Four since 1980. Next Saturday (April 6) in Glendale, AZ, Purdue will square off with the #11 NC State Wolfpack, who notched an impressive win over #4 Duke in the South Region Elite Eight.

The opening NC State vs Purdue odds favor the Boilermakers going at least one step further in their quest for the ultimate redemption.

NC State vs Purdue Odds

Purdue has opened as a 8.5-point favorite and -410 on the moneyline. The Wolfpack come back at +320 to win, while the game total is sitting at 147.5. Tip-off of NC State vs Purdue is scheduled for 6:09 pm MT/8:09 pm ET at State Farm Arena.

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Edey’s Huge Game Sends Purdue Past Tennessee

Zach Edey, soon-to-be back-to-back national player of the year, was at is best in the Elite Eight against Tennessee. Edey dropped a career-high 40 points on 13-of-21 shooting while also grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds.

Edey’s big night was imperative in a game where Purdue’s (usually excellent) three-point shooting was way off. A DI-best 41% from beyond the arc this season, the Boilermakers went just 3-of-15 from three against the Volunteers.

Edey is now averaging an even 30 PPG in the NCAA Tournament and raised his nation-leading scoring average to 24.6 PPG.

Purdue remains #3 overall at KenPom (#2 on offense and #16 on defense).  They haven’t played an ACC team this season, but beat Duke 75-56 in Portland last year on the strength of 21 points and 12 rebounds from Edey, and Florida State 79-69 in a true-road game.

The Boilermakers cashed as +165 favorites to win the Midwest in the Final Four odds. Their NCAA Tournament championship odds have improved to +230.

NC State Wins Rubber Match with Duke

Another day, another moneyline upset for NC State. The Wolfpack were NIT bound before a miracle run of five wins in five days (four as underdogs) in the ACC Tournament gave them an auto-bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

NC State’s miracle run has continued in March Madness with four more victories (three as underdogs), including a 76-64 win over in-state rival Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday night in Dallas, coming back from a 27-21 deficit at halftime.

DJ Burns, NC State’s 6’9, 275-pound power forward, had a huge night with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

DJ BURNS SPIN CYCLE 🫨

THE WOLFPACK EXTEND THE LEAD 😳 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/QeMLCXIeEl

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024

The Wolfpack defense was the real MVP of the game, holding the Blue Devils – who rate seventh in offensive efficiency at KenPom – to just 33% from the floor (19-of-58).

The Wolfpack started the tournament with an 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs. In the second round, they gutted out a 79-73 OT win over #14 Oakland as 6.5-point favorites. In the Sweet 16, they put the boots to #2 Marquette, leading by 13 at halftime cruising to a 67-58 victory as 7.5-point ‘dogs. NC State’s lead was never fewer than six in the final 20 minutes.

The Wolfpack were rated 76th in overall efficiency at KenPom before the ACC Tournament began. They had improved 48th (43rd on offense, 57th on defense) ahead of their Elite Eight matchup with Duke and will be knocking on the door of the top 40 tomorrow.

NC State was a +10000 longshot to win the South Region after Selection Sunday.

The post NC State vs Purdue Odds – Opening Spread, Moneyline & Total for Final Four appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Not your typical “Cinderella”, the #11 NC State Wolfpack (25-14, 9-2 neutral, 19-19-1 ATS) were nonetheless +10000 longshots to reach the Final Four after Selection Sunday. Tonight, the Wolfpack need just one more victory against the #4 Duke Blue Devils (21-13-1  ATS) to capture the South Region.

For the third time in four games, the Wolfpack are sizable underdogs in the NC State vs Duke odds. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT/4:05 pm ET at American Airlines Centers in Dallas, Texas.

NC State vs Duke Odds

The Blue Devils are 7.5-point favorites as of Sunday morning, up half a point from the opening NC State/Duke odds. Duke is a -290 favorite on the moneyline to advance to the Final Four, with NC State a +240 underdog. The total (143.5) has climbed 1.5 points since opening at 142.

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Duke started the tournament as the +295 second-favorite to win the South Region in the Final Four odds, trailing only #1 Houston (+150), whom Duke beat in the Sweet 16.

If the line is going to move further, it’s likely to come back towards the Wolfpack. The college basketball public betting splits show NC State getting 65% of ATS handle as of Sunday morning.

NC State Dominates Marquette to Reach Elite Eight

The Wolfpack’s Sweet 16 victory over #2 Marquette was arguably the most impressive during its current eight-game win streak, which dates back to a run of five victories in five days during the ACC Tournament.

NC State started the game on a 20-12 run in the first six minutes and held a 13-point edge at halftime (37-24). Marquette never got closer than six in the second half of the Wolfpack’s dominant 67-58 win.

DJ Horne led the Wolfpack with 19 points while center Mohammed Diarra had 11 points, 15 rebounds, a block, and a steal. Diarra was the biggest factor in NC State’s 42-35 edge on the glass.

NC State’s tournament run started with an 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs. They needed OT to get by #14 Oakland 79-63 as 6.5-point favorites before the assertive win over the Golden Eagles in the Sweet. 16.

The Wolfpack’s run to the ACC Tournament championship included four straight victories as moneyline underdogs: 83-65 vs Syracuse (+105), 74-69 vs Duke (+500), 73-65 OT vs Virginia (+122), and 84-76 vs North Carolina (+405).

Horne also had a team-high 18 in the win over Duke, when three-point shooting proved the biggest difference: NC State shot 43.8% from three (7-of-16) while Duke was just 25% (5-of-20).

Duke Survives Houston in Sweet 16

The Blue Devils dominated their first two games of the NCAA Tournament, blowing out #13 Vermont (64-47) and #12 James Madison (93-55), easily covering both games against the spread. They headed into the Sweet 16 as 4.5-point underdogs to the #1 Houston Cougars – the first time in eight games they weren’t favored – and immediately fell behind 14-7.

Shortly thereafter, the Cougars would lose Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead to an ankle injury, and Duke would take full advantage. The Blue Devils came all the way back to take a 23-22 lead by halftime. Houston was able to pull even at 32-32 in the second half – and Duke’s lead was never more than six – but the Blue Devils never trailed in the final 20 minutes of their narrow 54-51 victory.

Leading scorer Kyle Filiposki (16.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG) lead the team with 16 points and nine rebounds. Houston’s inability to shoot the three (2-of-8, 25%) was a massive issue for the Cougars. Duke’s defense now sits 14th in the nation in efficiency, while their offense is up to #7.

In the first meeting of the season between Duke and NC State, the Blue Devils cruised to a 79-64 road victory on March 4. Senior guard Jeremy Roach (14.0 PPG) had a team-high 21 points in the win while Duke as a team grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. 

NC State vs Duke Player Props

The college basketball player props for Oakland vs NC State from DraftKings Sportsbook on March 31. 

Filipowski leads the tightly-clustered point totals at 16.5 while Horne (15.5) is the highest on the NC State side. Diarra, NC State’s leading rebounder at 7.9 RPG, has a massive rebound total of 11.5. He’s had at least 11 in four straight games, but only exceeded that number once.

NC State vs Duke Prediction

I was a little shocked to see the line move in the Blue Devils’ direction after opening at Duke -7. NC State has proven it’s a very different team than the one that finished the regular season just 17-14. The Wolfpack were full value for their win over Duke in the ACC Tournament, and they have taken down a litany of quality competition during their current eight-game run.

The injury to Shead was a stroke of serious good luck for Duke, who would likely be at home right now if the Houston point guard didn’t get knocked out of Friday’s game.

NC State vs Duke picks:

• NC State moneyline (+240)
• Diarra under 11.5 rebounds (-120)

The post NC State vs Duke Predictions, Picks & Player Props for the Elite Eight (March 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #1 UConn Huskies dominated another quality opponent on Saturday night at TD Garden in Boston when they blew out #3 Illinois 77-52 thanks to a 30-0 run that spanned halftime.

UConn is now two wins away from becoming the first back-to-back national champion in 17 years (2007 Florida), and oddsmakers aren’t terribly bullish on the Huskies’ Final Four opponent.

In the Final Four for the first time in school history, the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide punched their ticket to the national semifinals with an 89-82 win over #6 Clemson. Alabama was a 4.5-point underdog in its Sweet 16 victory over West #1 North Carolina, but it is staring down a much bigger spread against UConn in the Final Four.

Alabama vs UConn Odds

Dan Hurley’s Huskies have opened as 10.5-point favorites over Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide. The moneyline favors UConn at -600 with Alabama a +440 underdog to reach the national championship game.

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UConn paid out as a +110 pre-tournament favorite to reach the Final Four. Alabama bettors landed a much bigger payday; the Tide were a +1000 fourth-favorite to win the West Region after Selection Sunday.

UConn Dominantes Excellent Illinois Team

An explosive, athletic Illini team looked like it might have the horses to keep up with tournament-favorite UConn early in the teams’ Elite Eight matchup on Saturday night. But after the Illini tied the game at 23-23 with just over a minute left in the first half, the Huskies went on a ludicrous 30-0 run that spanned halftime.

That included scoring the first 25 points of the second stanza. Seven-foot-two sophomore center Donovan Clingan dominated with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting plus 10 rebounds, five blocks, and and three steals.

Four other Huskies finished in double-figures, but it was UConn’s stifling defense that was the true star. Illinois’ offense, which ranks second in efficiency and averages 84.2 PPG, was held to its lowest point total of the season while shooting just 25.4% from the field.

Terrence Shannon Jr, the third-leading scorer in all of DI (23.5 PPG), was held to just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.

The win raised UConn’s overall efficiency rating at KenPom to +35.10, which is nearly four higher than #2 Houston and nearly six higher than their rating at the end of last year’s national-championship run.

Alabama Holds Off Clemson

In a thrilling battle between two schools looking for their first ever Final Four berths, Alabama held of Clemson for a 89-82 win on Saturday night at crypto.com Arena.

Leading scorer Mark Sears was as-advertised with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting (7-of-14 from beyond the arc). Freshman forward Jarin Stevenson had a massive 19 points off the bench on a night when some of Alabama’s starters weren’t at their offensive best. Senior forward Nick Pringle had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Tide finished just 46% from the field but won the rebounding battle by a massive 40 to 28 margin to more than make up for it.

The Tide reached the Elite Eight with an 89-87 victory over #1 UNC on Thursday night. Senior center Grant Nelson starred in that victory with a team-high 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Alabama now sits 13th overall in efficiency at KenPom and 14th at Haslametrics. KenPom has the Tide offense at #3 but their defense at 102nd.

Now 25-11 straight-up this season, the Tide improved their record against top-50 KenPom teams to 8-11 with Saturday’s win over Clemson, but they are just 2-6 against top-15 squads.

Alabama and Purdue will meet at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, April 6. Tip-off time is still TBD.

The post Alabama vs UConn Odds – Opening Point Spread, Moneyline & Total for Final Four appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The Tennessee Volunteers (27-8) will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers (32-4) in an Elite Eight matchup on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:20 PM ET with the game televised on CBS.

Purdue is currently a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 147.5 points. This betting line has moved towards Matt Painter’s team after opening with the Boilermakers as shorter -2 favorites.

Let’s further examine the Tennessee vs Purdue odds as we make our prediction for this Elite Eight showdown.

Tennessee vs Purdue Odds

In the Tennessee vs Purdue odds, the Boilermakers are narrow -160 favorites on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 61.5%.

These two teams met earlier this season in the Maui Invitational with Purdue prevailing 71-67. It was a defensive slugfest, with both teams shooting under 40% from the field and 30% from deep.

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Tennessee Betting Trends

Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating Creighton 82-75 in their Sweet Sixteen matchup. The Volunteers trailed 35-34 at halftime but erupted for 48 second-half points to pull away for the victory. Tennessee shot 41.8% from the field and made 11 three-pointers in the win.

Previously, the Vols beat Texas 62-58 in the Round of 32 and St. Peter’s 83-49 in the first round. On the season, Tennessee is averaging 79.1 points, 39.1 rebounds and 16.7 assists per game, while allowing 67.3 points per contest.

walked off the floor and into the Elite 8

our PG pic.twitter.com/J6bmA8ul5K

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 30, 2024

The Volunteers are led by guard Dalton Knecht who is putting up 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. As a team, Tennessee is shooting 44.4% from the field, 74.9% from the free throw line and 34.2% from three-point range.

However, the Vols could be without starting guard Santiago Vescovi who missed the Creighton game with an illness and is questionable to play against Purdue.

While the Vols have some offensive playmakers, Tennessee’s defense is their calling card. The Volunteers are 3rd in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. Their perimeter defenders can make life difficult for Purdue’s guards like Loyer and Braden Smith.

Purdue Betting Analysis

Purdue punched their ticket to the Elite Eight with an impressive 80-68 victory over Gonzaga. The Boilermakers led 40-36 at the half and pulled away after the break, shooting a scorching 57.1% from the field while winning the rebounding battle by 7.

Purdue steamrolled their first two opponents, crushing Utah State 106-67 and Grambling 78-50. The Boilermakers are averaging 83.8 points, 40.6 rebounds and 19 assists per game this season, while giving up 69.4 points per contest.

Purdue’s offense revolves around 7’4″ center Zach Edey who is nearly averaging a double-double with 24.6 points and 12.1 rebounds to go along with 2.1 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. Edey is shooting 62.4% from the field, including 82.1% at the rim.

The Boilermakers are an elite shooting team, making 48.8% of their field goals, 72.1% of their free throws and 40.8% of their three-pointers.

Purdue’s biggest strength is their size and interior scoring prowess with Edey. The Boilermakers rank 2nd nationally in opponent rebounds per game (29.2) and 65th in opponent field goal percentage (41.9%).

Tennessee vs Purdue Prediction

Purdue is the more talented and complete team, as exemplified by the spread for this game. They have Edey, the best player on the floor, and more scoring options to surround him with. The Boilermakers are on a mission to reach their first Final Four under coach Matt Painter and shed their label as March underachievers.

Purdue’s experience in close games, such as its Maui win over Tennessee and recent victories against Marquette and Gonzaga, should serve them well if this is a tight contest down the stretch. The Boilermakers are 7-1 this season in games decided by five points or less.

The Vols will put up a fight with their tough defense and gritty style of play. But unless they shoot significantly better from the field and from three than they did in the first meeting, it’s hard to see them generating enough offense to win.

Expect another hard-fought, physical battle, but for Purdue to make just enough plays to cover the 3.5-point spread. The under also looks appealing given the defensive nature of the matchup.

TEN vs PUR Picks

• Purdue -3.5 (-105)
• Under 147.5 (-110)

The post #2 Tennessee vs #1 Purdue Odds, Prediction & Picks (Mar. 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers will face off against the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in an intriguing Elite Eight matchup on Saturday at 8:49 p.m. EDT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be televised on TBS.

Alabama enters as a slight 3.5-point favorite despite Clemson dominating the recent head-to-head. The over/under has been set at 163.5 points for a matchup featuring the Tide’s top-ranked offense.

Let’s get into our Clemson vs Alabama prediction, as we analyze the odds and determine the best picks to make for the Elite Eight.

Clemson vs Alabama Odds

In the Clemson vs Alabama odds for Saturday, the Crimson Tide are -175 moneyline favorites, giving them an implied win probability of 63%.

These two teams last met in November, with Clemson pulling out an 85-77 victory in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers have won five of the last six meetings dating back to 2008.

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Clemson vs Alabama Head-to-Head Stats

Clemson Betting Analysis

Clemson (24-11, 11-10 ACC) is making its first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 after upsetting No. 2 seed Arizona 77-72 in the Sweet 16. The Tigers were led by Chase Hunter, who scored 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. PJ Hall also had a strong game with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Clemson’s defense has been stifling in the tournament, holding opponents to just 41% shooting. The Tigers rank 33rd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. While their opponent Saturday plays at a fast pace, the Tigers rank 267th in the country in adjusted tempo.

The moment we went from Sweet to Elite 😎 pic.twitter.com/dMFWjtGbNH

— Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) March 29, 2024

On the season, Hall leads Clemson in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). Hunter is the team’s second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg over the last 10 games. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 73.3 points on 46.5% shooting over their last 10 contests.

Clemson will need its defense to continue to shine against Alabama’s high-powered attack. The Tigers have allowed just 56 points to New Mexico, 64 to Baylor and 72 to Arizona so far in the tournament. The Tigers have been betting underdogs in all three games thus far.

Alabama Betting Analysis

Alabama (24-11, 13-6 SEC) punched its ticket to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history by knocking off No. 1 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide were paced by a season-high 24 points from Grant Nelson, while Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrada each chipped in 19.

For the season, Alabama boasts the nation’s top-scoring offense at 90.7 points per game and has outscored opponents by an average of 9.6 ppg. Mark Sears is the Tide’s leading scorer at 21.4 ppg while shooting 42.9% from three-point range. Estrada is averaging 15.1 ppg over the last 10 games on 48.9% shooting.

Mark Sears delivered for the Crimson Tide 🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/F4KAgEq472

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 25, 2024

Alabama plays at one of the fastest tempos in the country, averaging 76.7 possessions and ranking 9th in Ken Pom’s adjusted tempo metrics. Their ability to score in bunches has led to the “over” hitting in 12 of their last 14 contests.

The Crimson Tide have been turning a profit for bettors this season, covering the number in 20 of their 35 games so far. They’ve also covered in all three games of the tournament, including as 4.5-point underdogs against UNC.

Clemson vs Alabama Prediction

This game will likely come down to whether Clemson’s stingy defense can disrupt Alabama’s rhythm just enough. The Tide want to speed up the pace and score in transition, while the Tigers prefer a slower, more methodical approach.

If Clemson can control the tempo and get enough offense from Hall and Hunter, the Tigers could be headed to their first Final Four in program history. But if Alabama is clicking on all cylinders, the Tide’s firepower may simply be too much to overcome.

For our Clemson vs Alabama prediction, we like the under in this game. The regular-season meeting resulted in an 85-77 final score, but there is a key difference in playstyle between the regular season and the Elite 8.

The under has hit in eight of the Tigers’ past 10 games, and we expect this trend to continue as Clemson aims to slow this game down. Bet on the two teams falling under the posted total of 163.5 points.

CLEM vs ALA Pick:

• Under 163.5 Points (-105)

The post Clemson vs Alabama Prediction, Odds & Picks for Elite Eight Matchup appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Dating back to last season’s national-championship run, the #1 UConn Huskies (34-3, 9-0 neutral, 25-12 ATS) continue to destroy every team they meet in the NCAA Tournament, winning nine straight games by at least 13 points, including Thursday’s 30-point demolition of #5 San Diego State (82-52).

On Saturday, UConn matches up with the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini in the East Region Elite Eight at TD Garden in Boston at 6:09 pm ET. UConn opened as a 7.5-point favorite on Thursday night but that line has been bet up considerably.

Illinois vs UConn Odds

The Huskies are now nine-point chalk in the Illinois vs UConn odds and -425 to win straight-up (shortening from -325 in the opening odds). The Illini are +330 moneyline underdogs to win their eighth straight game, which includes a run to the Big Ten Tournament title. The game total has come down one point from 156.5 to 155.5 as of Saturday morning.

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UConn started the 2024 NCAA Tournament as +110 favorites to win the East Region in the Final Four odds. Illinois was the +700 fourth-favorite in the East on Selection Sunday.

Illinois Takes Down Iowa State to Reach First Elite Eight Since 2005

The Illini had a fairly easy run to the Sweet 16, running over #14 Morehead State (89-63) and then getting a favorable draw against #11 Duquesne, who upset #6 BYU in the first round. Illinois took full advantage, blowing the doors off the Dukes 89-63, including a 50-26 edge in the first half.

The free ride came to an end in the Sweet 16 where the Illini faced #2 Iowa State, owners of the nation’s most-efficient defense. But Terrence Shannon Jr and company used another big first-half performance (36-26) to edge out the Cyclones (72-69).

Shannon (23.5 PPG) finished with a team-high 29 points in the Iowa State victory and is now averaging 28.3 PPG in the tournament.

Illinois’ defense – rated just 84th at KenPom – played one of its best games of the season, holding the Cyclones to just 39.7% from the field and finishing +4 on the boards.

UConn Blows Out San Diego State (Again)

A year after taking down the Aztecs in the national championship game (76-59), #1 UConn put the boots to #5 San Diego State again on Thursday night in the Sweet 16. The Aztecs stayed within contact in the first half, which ended with a 40-31 UConn lead. But the second half was all Huskies, who held a double-digit lead for the last 18 minutes of their 30-point victory.

UConn’s guard trio of Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton, and Stephon Castle all scored between 16 and 18 points while the Huskies absolutely dominated the glass (50 to 29), making up for a subpar 30-of-65 (46.2%) performance form the field.

UConn trounced #16 Stetson (91-52) in the first round and #8 Northwestern (75-58) in the second. Dating back to the regular season, UConn has now held six of its last seven opponents to 60 points or fewer.

The Huskies rate first in overall efficiency at both KenPom and Haslametrics, and it’s no longer close. At +34.09, UConn is nearly three full points ahead of #2 Houston, which bowed out in the Sweet 16 to Duke last night.

ILL vs UConn Player Props

College basketball player props from DraftKings on March 30. 

Shannon has the highest point total of the night at 22.5 but five different UConn players (all the starters) are at 10.5 or higher, led by Tristen Newton at 16.5.

UConn center Donovan Clingan, who’s grabbed at least __ rebounds in the first three tournament games, has a game-high rebound total of 8.5 O/U.

Illinois vs UConn Prediction

If the Illini can keep this game within single-digits, they will be the first team to do so against UConn since the 2022 Tournament, when the Huskies bowed out to New Mexico in the first round.

But Illinois is not built like most college basketball teams. The Illini now have the number two offense in DI in terms of efficiency and Shannon is arguably the most-dynamic player in the country.

The real key to this game will be whether Illinois can contend on the glass. The Illini currently rank an excellent 17th in offensive-rebound percentage and a solid 64th on defense, which are remarkably similar rankings to UConn (12th offense and 79th on defense). Illinois’ trio of Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Quincy Guerrier give head coach Brad Underwood a trio of big, athletic bodies to battle in the post.

On paper, Illinois is uniquely suited to matchup with this UConn freight train. They have the firepower to keep up on offense and the athleticism to contend on defense.

ILL vs UConn pick: Illinois moneyline (+330)

The post Illinois vs UConn Predictions, Picks & Player Props for Elite Eight (March 30) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #1 Purdue Boilermakers are living up to their billing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, something they failed to do last year. After falling in the first round to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson a year ago, Matt Painter’s team has strung together three dominant victories to reach the school’s first Elite Eight since 2019 and just its second since the year 2000.

After Purdue took down #5 Gonzaga on Friday night, the #2 Tennessee Volunteers used a huge second half to beat #3 Creighton (82-75) and set up their second game of the season against the Boilermakers.

Purdue took the first meeting in Maui (71-67) and are favored in the opening Tennessee vs Purdue odds for the 2024 Elite Eight.

Tennessee vs Purdue Odds

Zach Edey and company are slim two-point favorites and -142 on the moneyline. The Vols come back at +120 to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. The game total has opened at 148.5.

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Purdue started the tournament as the +165 favorite to win the Midwest Region in the Final Four odds, with Tennessee a +330 second-favorite.

The winner of Tennessee vs Purdue will move on in the March Madness bracket to face the winner of the South Region, which features #11 NC State vs either #1 Houston or #4 Duke.

Purdue Cruises Past Gonzaga (Again)

Purdue blew out its first two opponents (78-50 over #16 Grambling; 106-67 vs #8 Utah State) but looked to be in a dogfight against #5 Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. The Zags left for most of the first half before a late Boilermaker surge gave Purdue a four-point lead at the break. The second half was all Boilermakers: a 16-2 run circa the 26-minute mark gave Purdue a 16-point lead that was never threatened thereafter.

Zach Edey wound up leading the team with 27 points and 14 rebounds, but it was the guard play that kept Purdue in contact early on. Purdue, which leads the nation in three-point percentage, went 9-of-20 from three (45%) while point guard Braden Smith dished out a career-high 15 assists (while also playing every minute of the 40).

Purdue remains the #3 team in overall efficiency at KenPom, sitting third on offense and 17th on defense.

The Boilermakers took a hardfought 71-67 decision against Tennessee at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 21.  Fletcher Loyer had a team-high 27 points in that victory, including a 10-of-11 performance form the free-throw line.

Tennessee Uses Huge Second-Half Run to Takedown Creighton

Tennessee trailed Creighton by one after a razor-tight first half (35-34) before a decisive 18-0 run early in the second stanza gave the Volunteers a 55-39 lead that they would not relinquish. The Bluejays made a game of it, trimming the lead to three at one point (62-59) but the Vols regained their composure to close it out

Leading scorer Dalton Knecht led Tennessee with 26 points on 8-of-21 shooting with five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

In the opening round of the tournament, the Vols took down #15 Saint Peter’s 83-49 in a laugher. Their second-round matchup with Texas was tighter, at least at the end. Tennessee held a seven-point lead with just over two minutes to play, yet found themselves up just one in the final 30 seconds before closing it out at the free-throw line.

Knecht also led the Vols in scoring in the first two rounds, dropping 23 against Saint Peter’s and 18 against Texas.

Tennessee is currently seventh overall at KenPom, third on defense but just 29th on offense.

The post Opening Tennessee vs Purdue Odds – Moneyline, Spread & Total for 2024 Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #11 NC State Wolfpack pulled off their sixth moneyline upset in their last seven games on Friday night with a 67-58 win over #2 Marquette as 7.5-point underdogs in the Sweet 16. The victory sent the Wolfpack through to their first Elite Eight since 1986, where they will face the #1 Duke Blue Devils for the right to represent the South Region in the 2024 Final Four.

The opening NC State vs Duke odds set the Wolfpack as underdogs once again.

NC State vs Duke Odds

The Blue Devils have opened as a seven-point favorite in the NC State vs Duke odds for Sunday’s Elite Eight game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

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Despite an impressive run to the ACC Tournament title, NC State entered the NCAA Tournament as a +10000 longshot to win the South Region in the Final Four odds. Duke opened as the second-favorite to win the South at +295.

Wolfpack Dominate Marquette in Sweet 16

NC State opened its tournament with an impressive 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs, but needed OT to get past #14 Oakland (87-81) in round two. The Wolfpack’s Sweet 16 matchup with #2 Marquette saw the team get back to dominating. NC State opened up a 13-point lead by halftime (37-24) and kept the Golden Eagles at arm’s length throughout the second half.

NC State’s size and length proved too much for Marquette. The Wolfpack finished +four on the boards led by 15 rebounds from center Mohammed Diarra. Marquette, which shot 35.2% from three as a team this season, went an uncharacteristic 4-of-31 (13%) from beyond the arc.

Leading scorer DJ Horne (16.7 PPG) had a team-high 19, hitting four of seven three-point attempts. Big man DJ Burns Jr dished out a career-high seven assists.

Now riding an eight-game win streak that includes five wins in five days during the ACC Tournament, NC State has won six of its last seven as moneyline underdogs. The Wolfpack’s run to the ACC title included wins over the top-three teams in the conference (UNC, Duke, and Virginia).

NC State lost to Duke in the regular season (79-64 home) but avenged that loss in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament with a 74-69 win in Washington, DC.

Duke Outlasts Houston to Reach First Elite Eight Under Scheyer

Duke steamrolled its first two opponents in the NCAA Tournament (64-47 over #13 Vermont; 93-55 over #12 James Madison) before a hard-fought Sweet 16 matchup with #1 Houston. The Blue Devils led by one after a low-scoring first half (23-22) and kept a nose in front throughout the second half of their 54-51 victory on Friday night in Dallas.

Sophomore center Kyle Filipowski lead the team with 16 points and nine rebounds while senior guard Jeremy Roach added 14 points. The Blue Devils had to benefit of facing a Cougars team that lost point guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead to an ankle injury just 13 minutes into the game.

After bowing out in the second round last year – Duke’s first under Jon Scheyer – the Blue Devils will be playing in their third Elite Eight in the last six NCAA Tournaments.

Overall, Duke rates fifth at KenPom (fifth on offense, 18th on defense). They are 7-6 against teams inside KenPom’s top 50, which now includes NC State. The Wolfpack started their ACC Tournament run rated 77th and have now climbed to 49th.

The post NC State vs Duke Odds – Opening Spread, Total & Moneyline for Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

On a quest to become the first repeat national champions since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007, the #1 UConn Huskies have already gotten further than any reigning champion since by reaching the Elite Eight. On Thursday night, the Huskies punched their ticket to the East Region final with an 82-52 win over San Diego State .

Standing in the tracks, awaiting the UConn freight train, will be the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini, who took down #2 Iowa State in the late game at TD Garden.

The opening Illinois vs UConn odds heavily favor the reigning-champion Huskies.

Illinois vs UConn Odds

The Huskies are 7.5-point favorites in the opening Illinois vs UConn odds and -325to win straight-up. The Illini come back as +260 moneyline underdogs, while the total has opened at 156.5.

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UConn has been the East Region favorite from the outset, opening at +110 to win the East in the Final Four odds on Selection Sunday. Coming off a Big Ten Tournament win, Illinois was +700 in the Final Four odds ten days ago.

UConn Wins Ninth Straight NCAA Tournament Game by Double-Digits

With Thursday’s 82-52 demolition of #5 San Diego State, the Huskies now have a 28.7 average margin of victory in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and have won each of their last nine March Madness games by at least 13 points dating back to last season’s tear through the bracket.

UConn didn’t shoot particularly well on Thursday night against the Aztecs (46.2% from the field and 38.5% from three) but they finished with a +21 rebounding margin while limiting the Aztecs to just 36.2% from the floor.

Cam Spencer finished with a team-high 18 points while Tristen Newton and Stephon Castle added 17 and 16, respectively.

The Huskies already rated first in adjusted efficiency at KenPom prior to the victory over SDSU, and will only see its +33.14 rating rise. To put that number in perspective, last year’s title-winning team finished at just +29.86.

Illinois’ Offense Stays Hot

While Illinois’ run of four 80-point games was stopped by Iowa State – the nation’s top defense in terms of efficiency – Terrence Shannon Jr and company still put on an impressive display against the Cyclones on Thursday night.

At the 14-minute mark, Shannon was personally outscoring the Cyclones (14-12) while his Illini held a 12-point cushion. Iowa State showed its championship mettle in coming back from a ten-point halftime deficit (36-26) in the second half, narrowing the gap to two (53-51) with 5:48 to play. But Shannon proved too much down the stretch in Illinois’ 72-69 win.

The nation’s third-leading scorer (23.3 PPG) finished with 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field.

In the first round, Illinois ran over #14 Morehead State (85-69) and followed that up with an 89-63 blowout of #11 Duquesne with Shannon scoring 26 in round one and 30 in round two.

The post Opening Illinois vs UConn Odds for the Elite Eight – Spread, Moneyline & Total appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Picked by many – including oddsmakers – to lose in the first round, the #6 Clemson Tigers have won three straight as moneyline underdogs to reach the school’s first Elite Eight since 1980. The Tigers will face the West Region #4 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday at crypto.com Arena for a spot in the Final Four.

To no one’s surprise, the Tigers are underdogs once again in the opening Clemson vs Alabama odds.

Clemson vs Alabama Odds

The Clemson vs Alabama line has opened at Alabama -1.5 with the Tide -125 on the moneyline. The game total is at 165.

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Alabama was +1000 to win the West Region on Selection Sunday, while Clemson was a +4000 longshot in the Final Four odds.

Clemson Outlasts Arizona

Clemson has used a trio of dominant first halves to book its ticket to the Elite Eight.

In the first round, the Tigers led #11 New Mexico 42-28 at the break before cruising to a 77-56 win; in the second round, Clemson opened a 35-25 lead on #3 Baylor and held on for a 72-64 win; in the Sweet 16, the Tigers held a 39-31 lead on #2 Arizona and, despite falling behind by one (46-45) five minutes into the second half, stormed back to earn a 77-72 win.

Chase Hunter had a team-high 18 points against the Wildcats, while center PJ Hall added 17 and a team-leading eight rebounds.

The Tigers showed that they had this type of run in them early in the season. Clemson started the year 11-1 win victories over Boise State (85-68 home), Alabama (85-77 away), Pitt (79-70 away), South Carolina (72-67 home), and TCU (74-66 neutral).

But many left the Tigers for dead after they went just 10-10 the rest of the way, and bowed out to Boston College (71st at KenPom) in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

Clemson did manage to split its two meetings with UNC in the regular season, dropping a low-scoring 65-55 verdict at home on Jan. 6, but repaying the favor in Chapel Hill on Feb. 6 with an 80-76 road win.

Alabama Comes Back to Upset UNC

The Crimson Tide’s Final Four chances were on life support against #1 UNC at halftime, trailing the Tar Heels by eight at the break. But a consummate team effort allowed Alabama to come all the way back for a 89-87 win as 4.5-point underdogs. Grant Nelson led the Tide with 24 points while Aaron Estrada (19), Rylan Griffen (18), and Mark Sears (18) all approached 20 as well.

The offensive explosion was just the latest for Alabama’s electric offense. The Tide trounced #13 Charleston (109-96) in the first round and then survived a 72-61 decision against #12 Grand Canyon in the round of 32.

Led by Mark Sears (21.5 PPG), Alabama rates fourth in offensive efficiency, but a lowly 101st on defense. Clemson beat the Tide 85-77 in Alabama during the regular season.

The post Clemson vs Alabama Odds – Crimson Tide Open as Betting Favorites in Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The Creighton Bluejays and Tennessee Volunteers are battling for a spot in the Elite Eight in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket. Creighton defeated Akron 77-60 in the first round then beat #11 Oregon in a double overtime thriller to get to their third Sweet 16 in four years. Tennessee took down #15 Saint Peters in the Round of 64 83-49 then defeated #7 Texas in the Round of 32 to make the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.

Creighton got to their first Elite Eight since 1941 last year and would like to make it back there. Tennessee lost to FAU in the Sweet 16 last season and are looking to get back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010. The Volunteers have been lost three straight Sweet 16 games.

Creighton vs Tennessee Odds

Friday’s college basketball odds list Tennessee as a 3-point favorite over Creighton. The line has moved slightly after opening at Tennessee -2. The Volunteers are -150 on the moneyline, which gives them an implied win probability of 60%. The total has shot down since it opened at 148.5, as the O/U is now down to 143.5

Heading into the Sweet 16, Tennessee has the sixth-best NCAA Tournament Championship odds at +1400, while Creighton is currently +2500 to win it all.

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Odds as of March 28 at Fanatics. Claim the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to bet on Creighton vs Tennessee.

Creighton Betting Trends

Creighton is 19-15 against the spread this season and has covered in both of their two NCAA Tournament games so far. The Bluejays entered March Madness hot winning seven of their last eight games of the regular season before falling to Providence in the Big East Tournament. Creighton has covered the spread in nine of their last 11 games, but they are 0-2 against the spread as an underdog of at least three points.

The Bluejays love the three-ball. They score over 80 points and shoot over 10 three pointers per game. Their offense is ranked eleventh in adjusted efficiency and is led by Baylor Scheierman who puts up 18.3 points per game as well as over 9 rebounds a game. Creighton’s offense is difficult to stop because they have so many players that can score the basketball with ease. Trey Alexander and 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner both average over 17 points per game and are trusted down the stretch.

Creighton does a good job of defending shots as well. They allow opponents to shoot just 41% from the field and allow teams to shoot 31% from behind the arc.

Tennessee Betting Trends

The Volunteers are 17-16-1 against the spread this year and are 1-1 against the spread in the tournament. They have only covered once in their last four games, and the over has only hit twice in their last ten games.

Tennessee had one of, if not their worst shooting game of the season against Texas and they still found a way to win. The Volunteers were 3/25 from three and shot just 33% from the field in the Round of 32. They were able to rely on their defense and held the Longhorns to 58 points. Tennessee is ranked third in defensive efficiency, so when the shots are not falling, Tennessee can stay in any game with their defense.

Tennessee’s offense has played well this year outside of their last game. SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht averages 21 points per game and has the ability to take over games. The Volunteers will be looking for Knecht to have a big game against Creighton.

Creighton vs Tennessee Prediction

This is one of the most exciting Sweet 16 games this year as both teams have had Final Four expectations since the start of the year. It should go down to the wire, but Tennessee has the slight edge.

It is hard to imagine the Volunteers having another offensive performance like they had against Texas. If their offense gets back to scoring the way they can, they will be tough to beat. If Creighton is hitting all their threes, it could be difficult for Tennessee, but I will trust the Volunteers’ defense to hold them in check. The Volunteers advance to their first Elite Eight since 2010.

Pick: Tennessee -3 (-110)

The post Creighton vs Tennessee Expert Picks and Predictions for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The seventh game of the Sweet 16 sees #4 Duke take on #1 Houston in South Region action. These have been two of the top teams in the country all year and it’s bound to be a great game. The two teams enter their Sweet 16 matchup coming off very different experiences in the Round of 32.

The game is scheduled to tip-off on Friday, March 29 at 9:39pm ET and can be seen on CBS. (Just be aware that this game is being played at America Airlines Center right after NC State vs Marquette. So, if that game runs a little long, the tip for Duke vs Houston will also get pushed back.)

Duke vs Houston Odds

The #1 Houston Cougars are 4.5-point favorites in their matchup with Duke. Houston is given -190 odds to win the game, which comes out to a 65.5% probability to win the game.

If you bet $20 on Houston to win, you would stand to win $10.53 and return $30.53. If you placed that same $20 bet on Duke at +160 odds, your potential profit would be $32 while returning $52.

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Houston opened as a 4-point favorite in their Sweet 16 matchup with Duke, and the total opened at 133. Some sportsbooks still have Houston -4, but most have moved to 4.5 now. One betting app has gone the other way with the spread, moving to 3.5.

The Duke vs Houston odds in the table above are from ESPN Bet.

If you already have a bet in mind and are only here to find the best odds, I have rounded up the best sportsbook to place each bet at below:

• Best sportsbook for Houston ML = BetMGM (-189)
• Best sportsbook for Duke ML = bet365 (+165)
• Best sportsbook for Houston spread = BetMGM (-3.5 at -120)
• Best sportsbook for Duke spread = FanDuel (+4.5 at -115)
• Best sportsbook for over = FanDuel (133.5 at -115)
• Best sportsbook for under = DraftKings (134.5 at -112)

But if you’re not seeing this article right away – check the publish date at the top – then you should also consult our college basketball odds to ensure a better price hasn’t emerged since publish.

Duke Offense Enters Sweet 16 Red-Hot

After a pretty mediocre shooting performance against Vermont in the first round, Duke’s offense exploded against James Madison in the Round of 32. As a team, they shot 52% from the field and an extremely impressive 50% (14/28) from behind the three-point line. The ball was moving from side-to-side and players were passing up decent looks to give their teammates even better looks. The Blue Devils only had 11 made field goals that went unassisted against James Madison.

JARED McHIM 🕺🕺

🔥 30 burger with 11 minutes to go

🔥 Most 1H points by any player in this tourney

🔥 Most 3pt FGM in an NCAA Tournament by a Duke player (8) pic.twitter.com/azdmyZ9b0H

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 24, 2024

Jared McCain and Tyrese Proctor did the majority of the damage from behind the three-point line, shooting 8/11 and 4/10, respectively. McCain led the team with 30 points in just 31 minutes, while Proctor, Jeremy Roach, and Kyle Filipowski all scored double-digit points as well. It will be important that Roach is available for Duke after suffering a dislocated finger on Sunday – early reports suggest he will be able to go.

What should be most concerning to Houston, in my opinion, is that we have yet to see Filipowski do much this tournament. After averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game this season, Duke’s star center attempted just one shot against Vermont and only needed eight attempts against James Madison. This is a player who was pretty regularly pouring in 20-25+ points when Duke needed him.

If Filipowski gets going down low and McCain, Proctor, and Roach stay hot from deep, this Duke team will be tough to stop.

Houston Must Stay Out of Foul Trouble & Rebound

According to TheGameHaus.com, Houston has been an early pick from the start of the tournament. However, they were given quite the scare in the second round.

One of the reasons for Houston’s scare in the second round was the foul trouble they got themselves into. The Cougars committed 28 personal fouls, and had to play without LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp, both fouled out, down the stretch. For perspective, the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles averaged the most personal fouls per game this season at 21.6.

Houston only averages 17.9 personal fouls per game for the season, which ranks 268th in the country. The good news is Duke only draws an average of 16.2 fouls per game on their opponent (244th), while their Round of 32 opponent, Texas A&M, was 16th in the country, forcing their opponents to commit an average of 19.7 fouls per game.

LJ Cryer buries a triple and Jim Nantz is loving it 🙌#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/Ga7rSesRLV

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2024

The Cougars cannot get themselves into foul trouble again. Not only will Duke make them pay from the charity stripe – A&M only made 29 of their 45 free throws (64%) – but Houston is going to need all their shooters on the floor in the game’s biggest moments.

Another factor that led to Houston’s near-exit was all the offensive rebounds they gave up to A&M. The Aggies grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, which included 12 in the second half. Once again, there’s a bright light here in that Texas A&M led the nation, by a fair amount, in offensive rebounds per game – they averaged 15.3 per game and the second-best was just 13. Duke only averages nine offensive rebounds per game (129th), and Houston only allows 8.7 per game (196th).

If Houston allows Duke to hit the glass and get some second chance looks, that’s where the Blue Devils could start heating up from behind the three-point line.

Duke vs Houston Team Stats Comparison

While there are plenty of college basketball stats I could list our for comparison, the stats below are the ones I believe to be most important for this matchup:

As I mentioned above, I believe three-point shooting and offensive rebounding will play a big role in determining who advances to the Elite Eight.

Duke vs Houston Predictions & Pick

In spite of Houston’s struggles in the second round, I do still see them as the better team in this matchup. I believe A&M was able to exploit Houston in ways the vast majority of teams cannot – on the offensive glass and by putting them in foul trouble by slashing so well. I don’t believe Duke can apply the same pressure.

However, Houston’s inability to put the Aggies away late does concern me a little. They don’t have a ton of scoring depth and can be a little too reliant on offensive rebounds at times. So, I don’t feel great laying the points here, as I think Duke has the offensive firepower to keep this one close. Instead, I am going to craft another same-game parlay with Houston moneyline and LJ Cryer to score 12+ points.

Cryer has scored 20 and 17, respectively, in Houston’s two tournament games, and has scored at least 12 in ten of Houston’s 12 wins that came by 10 points or less. When the Cougars win close games, which this one projects to be, Cryer scores.

Pick: Houston moneyline & LJ Cryer 12+ points same-game parlay (-110) at DraftKings

If you find yourself in a state that does not allow college basketball player props, you can swap out Cryer’s points for the over on an alternate team total for Houston. The Cougars have scored 100 and 86 points, respectively, in their two tournament games, and have posted at least 67 points in all but five games this season. I don’t believe they’re beating Duke with any less than 67.

Alternate Pick: Houston moneyline & Houston over 66.5 points (-115) at BetMGM

The post Duke vs Houston Predictions, Odds & Picks for Sweet 16 Matchup appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

No. 11 seed NC State (24-14) and No. 2 seed Marquette (28-9) will meet in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 29th at 7:09 PM ET on CBS. The game will take place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Marquette is currently a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5 points, according to ESPN Sportsbook Sportsbook. NC State has been on a remarkable underdog run, but will it continue against the Wolfpack?

Let’s further breakdown the NC State vs Marquette odds, as we provide our prediction and best March Madness picks.

NC State vs Marquette Odds

In the NC State vs Marquette odds at ESPN, the Golden Eagles are 275 favorites on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 73%.

The latest 2024 March Madness odds show the Golden Eagles as +1600 to win the entire tournament while the Wolfpack are +10,000 longshots (worst odds of any remaining team).

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Odds as of March 28, 2024, at ESPN Bet North Carolina. Unlock the ESPN Bet North Carolina promo to wager on March Madness Sweet 16 games. Bet $5 on the game and get $225!

NC State Betting Trends

NC State enters on a remarkable 5-game winning streak, including winning 5 games in 5 days to capture the ACC Tournament title as a double-digit seed. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated No. 6 Texas Tech 80-67 in the first round and No. 14 Oakland 79-73 in overtime in the second round.

The Wolfpack have been underdogs in four straight games but keep finding ways to win. Forward DJ Burns Jr. is the engine that makes the offense go, averaging 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. He scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Oakland.

don't waste your time trying to steal the ball from DJ Burns Jr. in the paint @PackMensBball pic.twitter.com/XS8GOgixAd

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2024

The key for NC State in this game is getting production from their supporting cast like guards Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith to take scoring pressure off Burn. Mohamed Diarra also had double-doubles in both games and is averaging 14 points and 12.5 rebounds in the tourney.

NC State ranks 42nd in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metrics, but they only rank 76th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Part of those struggles can be attributed to their three-point defense, which ranks outside the top-200 nationally.

Marquette Betting Trends

Marquette advanced by beating Western Kentucky 87-69 in the first round after trailing by 7 at halftime. In the second round, they held off Colorado 81-77 despite Colorado tying the game late. The Golden Eagles are 12-3 in their last 15 games overall.

Star point guard Tyler Kolek, who recently recovered from an oblique injury, averaged 19.5 points and 11 assists and shot 63 percent from the field in the two wins. In the victory over Colorado, Kolek had 21 points and 11 assists, while Kam Jones added 18 points.

Tyler Kolek is CLUTCH.

Marquette with the late lead pic.twitter.com/ePRLp0jbrx

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2024

The advanced metrics paint Marquette in a good light, as the Eagles rank 19th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 21st in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. According to that same website, they have also played the eighth-hardest schedule in the country.

Marquette is 21-14-1 ATS on the season, covering the number in 12 of their past 17 games. They were favored by 4.5 points against Colorado in the Round of 32 but missed out on covering the spread by an ever-so-slim margin.

NC State vs Marquette Prediction

While NC State has been a great story, Marquette’s combination of elite guard play, defensive intensity, and coaching from Shaka Smart gives them a significant edge in this matchup. Expect the Golden Eagles’ depth and athleticism to eventually wear down the Wolfpack over 40 minutes.

Marquette’s ability to force turnovers and score in transition will be the difference. Look for Kolek and Jones to set the tone on both ends. Burns will get his points inside for NC State, but it won’t be enough to overcome Marquette’s balance and defensive pressure.

NC State vs Marquette Pick:

• Marquette Golden Eagles -6.5 (-105)

The post NC State vs Marquette Odds, Prediction & Picks (March. 29) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

A second neutral-site game between the #5 Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-7, 5-2 neutral, 17-16 ATS) and #1 Purdue Boilermakers (31-4, 7-1 neutral, 18-15-2 ATS) will take place on Friday, March 29, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI, as part of the Sweet 16. The winner will move onto the Elite Eight in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket.

The Gonzaga vs Purdue odds opened at Purdue -5.5 last Sunday and the spread remains unchanged as of Thursday night.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Odds

Purdue is still a 5.5-point favorite for Friday’s game and -230 on the moneyline. The total, however, has moved up significantly over the week: after opening at 152.5, the over/under has been bet up two full points to 154.5.

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The winner of Gonzaga vs Purdue will face the winner of #3 Creighton vs #2 Tennessee on Sunday in a very chalky Midwest Region. The Boilermakers enter the Sweet 16 as a +120 favorite to win the Midwest in the latest Final Four odds. Gonzaga is the longest of the quartet at +500. Tennessee sits at +210 with Creighton at +450.

Gonzaga Steamrolls McNeese, Kansas

Mark Few’s Bulldogs have been nothing short of sensational while reach the school’s ninth straight Sweet 16. Gonzaga blew out upset-minded McNeese (86-65) as 6.5-point favorites in the first round, and then used a big second half to gap Kansas (89-68) in the round of 32 as 4.5-point chalk.

Gonzaga’s depth has been on display so far. Five different Zags were in double figures both wins, while eight scored at least seven points in the McNeese game.

Point guard Ryan Nembhard has only scored 13 points combined in the tournament (after scoring at least 13 in the five previous games) but his ball-handling and vision have been crucial to Gonzaga’s success on offense. The junior Creighton transfer has 21 total assists so far and has dished out at least nine dimes in five straight.

Gonzaga’s size has been a big problem for both its Tournament opponents to date. With four rotation players 6’8 or taller, the Bulldogs finished +12 on the boards against McNeese, and +5 against Hunter Dickinson’s Jayhawks.

The first time they met Purdue this season, Gonzaga ended up on the wrong side of a 73-63 decision in Maui on Nov. 20, but that was due to cold shooting (37.7% from the field and 18.2% from three). The Zags actually managed to play Zach Edey and company even on the boards (38 rebounds apiece).

Purdue Dominates First Two Opponents

Coming off a devastating first-round loss to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round last year – becoming just the second #1 team to lose in the first round – Purdue showed no jitters in the first weekend. The Boilermakers ran over #16 Grambling State (78-50) before demolishing #8 Utah State (106-67) in a game that was decided by the 17-minute mark after Purdue went on an 18-1 run to build a 15-point lead.

Soon-to-be two-time national player of the year Zach Edey has been as advertised. The 7’4 center is averaging 26.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per game in the Tournament so far (after leading the nation at 24.5 PPG and finishing second in rebounding at 12.1 RPG during the regular season).

Purdue still sits third at KenPom in overall efficiency behind UConn and Houston, third on offense and 15th on defense. Unlike last season, when the offense was basically Edey-or-bust, this year’s Boilermakers have an excellent supporting cast. Sophomore Braden Smith, in particular, has developed into an elite point guard, averaging 12.3 PPG on a ludicrous 44% clip from beyond the arc, along with 7.3 assists per game, which is third in DI behind Marquette’s Tyler Kolek (7.9) and Minnesota’s Elijah Hawkins (7.5).

With Smith leading the way, Purdue currently ranks first out of all 362 DI teams in three-point percentage (40.9%). Last year, they shot just 32.2% from beyond the arc (276th).

GONZ  vs PUR Player Props

Gonzaga vs Purdue college basketball player props from DraftKings on March 28, 2024.  

Edey’s point total has been set at 25.5, exactly one higher than his season average and half a point more than he scored in the first meeting with the Zags. His rebound total of 12.5 is 0.4 higher than his average; he finished the first game against Gonzaga with 14.

Graham Ike, Gonzaga’s leading scorer at 16.5 PPG, leads the Bulldog player at 16.5 points O/U, while Nembhard has the highest assist total at 7.5.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Predictions

The first matchup between the teams ended with a double-digit deficit but the game was competitive throughout. Gonzaga led by as many as nine in the first half (30-21) and were still up five at halftime (35-30). The Zags weren’t overwhelmed by Edey’s size inside and they are one of the few teams that has enough big bodies to really make the Purdue center work.

If Gonzaga shoots slightly better than it did in the first meeting, this game will be a back-and-forth affair. I love the value on the Zags’ moneyline at +188, which gives Gonzaga just a 34.72% implied win probability.

Gonzaga vs Purdue picks:

• Gonzaga moneyline (+188)
• Nembhard over 7.5 assists (-115)

The post Gonzaga vs Purdue Picks, Predictions & Player Props for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

A stark contrast in styles is on tap in the East Region Sweet 16 when the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini (28-8, 7-0 neutral, 20-13-3 ATS) square off with the #2 Iowa State Cyclones (29-7, 6-2 neutral, 25-10-1 ATS).

Tip-off between Illinois and Iowa State is scheduled for 10:10 pm ET at TD Garden in Boston, MA, on Thursday night, and  the odds are the narrowest on the board among the eight Sweet 16 matchups, with the Cyclones listed as slight 1.5-point favorites.

Illinois vs Iowa State Odds

The Illinois/ISU moneyline shows Iowa State as a modest -120 favorite to win straight-up with the Illini at even money. The game total is sitting at 146.6.

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The winner between Illinois and Iowa State will move onto the Elite Eight in the March Madness bracket, facing either #1 UConn or #5 San Diego State, who meet earlier in the day at TD Garden in a rematch of last year’s national championship game.

UConn is a heavy -230 favorite to win the East Region in the updated Final Four odds, followed by ISU at +425, Illinois at +600, and San Diego State at a distant +1400.

Illinois Offense Clicking

After a dominant offensive performance led the Illini to a Big Ten Tournament title, Illinois’ attack has stayed hot in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini dropped 85 points in their first-round win over #14 Morehead State (85-69) and then blew out #11 Duquesne 89-63 in round two.

Terrence Shannon Jr – the third-leading scorer in the nation at 23.3 PPG – had a game-high 26 against Morehead and 30 against Duquesne. Shannon has now scored at least 25 points in six straight games, including a 40 spot against Nebraska in the Big Ten semifinals.

Illinois’ hot streak has moved its offense to first in efficiency at KenPom. The team is hitting at 35.3% from three (105th) and 55.3% from two (21st) while grabbing 36.2% of offensive-rebound chances (16th).

Marcus Domask – a Southern Illinois transfer who’s playing a point-forward role for Brad Underwood’s team – became just the tenth player to record a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament during the first round, with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Morehead State.

The Illini defense is a different story, sitting 91st in efficiency at KenPom and allowing 73.4 PPG. in five of Illinois’ eight losses this season, the opposition scored at least 80 points.

Illinois is 9-6 straight-up against top-50 teams this season, but only 3-5 against teams in KenPom’s top 50.

Cyclones Distance Cougars in Second Half

With its offense sputtering, Iowa State found itself in an early 11-1 hole against #7 Washington State in the round of 32. But the Cyclones had come back to tie the game at 27s by halftime and dominated the second half en route to a 67-56 victory as 6.5-point chalk.

Four different Cyclones finished in double-figures, led by 15 from Tamin Lipsey and 14 off the bench from Curtis Jones. Iowa State’s stifling defense held WSU to 43.1% from the field and just 21.7% from three (5-of-23) while forcing 13 turnovers and sending the Cougars to the line just nine times.

While Illinois now sits first in offensive efficiency, the Cyclones have moved into first in defensive efficiency. ISU has held ten straight opponents under 70 points and is allowing just 61.3 PPG for the year.

They sit second on turnover percentage on defense, forcing turnovers on 25.2% of possessions, which more than makes up for a subpar defensive-rebound percentage (70.6%, 196th).

Iowa State is 12-5 against top-50 teams and 5-3 against top-25 teams, including a pair of victories over Houston (57-53 home, 69-41 neutral).

ILL vs ISU Player Props

Shannon has the highest point total at 21.5, which is two points under his season average and 3.5 fewer than he’s scored in each of his last six games. ISU leading scorer Keshon Gilbert leads the Cyclones at 13.5 O/U, which is right on his season average of 13.7 PPG.

Illinois vs Iowa State Prediction

Excepting a 90-89 OT loss to Penn State, all of Illinois setbacks this year came against teams with elite defenses. Duquesne was of a similar ilk (31st in defensive efficiency, 264th in tempo) but didn’t have the horses to keep up with Shannon and company. Iowa State will be a different story. There won’t be any gap in athleticism between the teams, and I am sticking with the Cyclones – who I have in the national championship game in my expert bracket – to advance.

ILL vs ISU pick: Iowa State moneyline (-120)

Sascha Paruk NCAA Tournament betting record: 19-17 (+0.51 units)

The post Illinois vs Iowa State Predictions, Player Props & Picks for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

San Diego State is looking for revenge in the Sweet 16, as they get another shot at the UConn team that beat the Aztecs in the National Championship last year. San Diego State surprised many last year and beat FAU on a buzzer beater in the Final Four to take on UConn. The Huskies won 76-59 as 7.5-point favorites. Many players on San Diego State are on their roster again this season.

The winner of this Sweet 16 matchup will get back to Elite Eight for a second straight season. They will face the winner of #3 Illinois and #2 Iowa State for a chance to represent the East Region of the March Madness bracket in the Final Four.

San Diego State vs UConn Odds

Thursday’s college basketball odds list UConn as a heavy favorite to advance to the Elite Eight. The Huskies are -630 on the moneyline, which gives them an implied win probability of 86.3%. UConn is -11 against the Aztecs, and the total in this one is set at 136.

Heading into the Sweet 16. UConn remains the favorite in the Final Four odds. The Huskies are currently -230 to win their next to games and to get to the Final Four in Glendale. UConn is also the +220 favorite in the NCAA Tournament Championship odds. San Diego State is currently +1600 to reach the Final Four and +800 to win March Madness.

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San Diego State Representing the Mountain West Yet Again

Six Mountain West teams received a bid to the NCAA Tournament, and only one remains heading into the second weekend of March Madness: San Diego State. In fact, only Utah State got a win in the first round. Every other Mountain West team lost in the Round of 64. This is nothing new for the Aztecs, as last year, four teams from the conference made the tournament, and no team besides San Diego State made it past the first round.

The Aztecs won a close game against #12 UAB in the Round of 64, then cruised to a 85-57 victory over Yale in the second round. This year’s San Diego State team is very similar to last year’s because of players like Jaedon LeDee, Lamont Butler, and Darrion Trammell who returned this year. While they may have underperformed in the regular season, they still did enough in this season to earn a #5 seed and make it back to the Sweet 16.

Their offense leaves much to be desired, but they win with defense and rebounding. San Diego State is eighth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, marking the third straight year that the Aztecs have a top ten team in that category. They want to slow the game down and get good, high-quality shots. When those shots are going in, the Aztecs become difficult to beat. LeDee leads the team in scoring by far with over 21 points per game.

San Diego State went just 14-20 against the spread this year and was 2-5 ATS as an underdog.

UConn’s Domination Continues

Since last year’s tournament, UConn has won every game and they have covered every spread. Head Coach Dan Hurley is now 9-3 against the spread in the NCAA Tournament in his career, and UConn is 24-6 against the spread in their last 30 tournament games. The Huskies look determined to become the first team to go back to back since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007.

UConn took down #16 Stetson 91-52, then beat Northwestern in the Round of 32 75-58, despite not shooting well. The Huskies made just three three pointers against Northwestern but still found a way to win and cover as double-digit favorites. UConn is strong on offense and defense. They can score quickly and in multiple ways, and they are ranked ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency.

While the Huskies have multiple players that can take over, they are led by the guard duo Tristen Newton and Cam Spener, who average 15.3 and 14.4 points per game respectively. But you cannot forget about Donovan Clingan, who makes his presence felt on both sides of the ball and averages over 2 blocks a game. Even though UConn lost players from last year’s National Championship team, they returned plenty of talent and everyone took a step in the right direction.

The Huskies are an impressive 24-12 against the spread this season.

San Diego State vs UConn Prediction

While San Diego State is looking for revenge, I do not see how they can keep up with UConn. The Huskies just shot the ball poorly in their last game, and they still won by seventeen. Coach Hurley is an expert motivator and will have his guys ready to go out there and play better than they did against Northwestern.

San Diego’s defense will make some plays, but it is hard to imagine the Aztecs being able to score enough points to stay in this game. Since last season, UConn has won every March Madness game by double digits and that will continue against San Diego State.

Pick: UConn -11 (-110)

The post San Diego State vs UConn Expert Picks and Predictions (March 28) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers and the No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats faceoff in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 March Madness NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:09 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The latest Sweet 16 odds favor the Wildcats by 7.5 points over the Tigers. The over/under is offered at 152.5 points, while player props favor strong outings from Caleb Love and Oumar Ballo.

Let’s dive into our Clemson vs Arizona prediction, as we analyze the odds and provide player props to bet.

Clemson Tigers vs Arizona Wildcats Odds

In the Clemson vs Arizona odds, the Wildcats are -7.5-point favorites on the spread and -300 favorites on the moneyline. Arizona’s implied win probability based on these odds is 75%.

The latest Final Four odds show the Wildcats as the third betting choice (+120) to make the semi-finals, while the Tigers are +1100 longshots.

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Clemson Tigers Betting Analysis

Clemson advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after defeating 11-seed New Mexico 77-56 in the first round and upsetting 3-seed Baylor 72-64 in the second round. For the season, Clemson is 26-9 overall and went 14-6 in ACC play to finish in a tie for third place.

Guard Chase Hunter led the way with 21 and 20 points in the two postseason victories. While Hunter stepped up in the opening two games, Clemson is led by 22-year-old senior PJ Hall.

The 6’10” junior is the Tigers’ leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 18.8 points and 6.7 boards per game. He shoots 49.2% from the field and 31.6% from three. However, Hall has battled foul trouble in his first two NCAA Tournament games, finishing with four in 19 minutes against New Mexico and fouling out in 20 minutes against Baylor.

A visibly emotional PJ Hall in the locker room after the game: "After the BC game, we got punched in the mouth by everyone we can think of … all that mattered was in this room, this staff, and the heart we've got." pic.twitter.com/r9beALfzzt

— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWYFFNews4) March 25, 2024

Clemson plays at a slower pace, ranking 257th in adjusted tempo per KenPom. They are solid defensively, ranking 38th in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Tigers struggle to defend the three-point line, however, holding opponents to shoot 33.3% from deep (163rd in the nation).

The Tigers are 19-14-1 against the spread (ATS) and 17-17 in hitting the over. They’ve won outright in two straight games as betting underdogs, advancing their record to 6-3 straight up when the other team is favored. They are also 8-1 ATS as an underdog this season.

Arizona Wildcats Betting Analysis

Arizona cruised into the Sweet Sixteen with double-digit victories over 15-seed Long Beach State (85-65) and 7-seed Dayton (78-68). The Wildcats are now 27-8 overall after going 16-6 in Pac-12 play to fall just short of the regular season title.

The Wildcats have been led by senior guard Caleb Love, who put up 18 and 19 points in the two playoff victories. Depth has been the name of the game for Arizona this season, however, as four different players average more than 11 points per game.

Arizona boasts the nation’s ninth most efficient offense, per KenPom. They play at a fast tempo (16th) and shoot a high percentage from the field (48.9%, 15th). The Wildcats are especially dangerous from three-point range, knocking down 37.30% as a team (20th).

Defensively, Arizona is above-average, ranking 44th in adjusted efficiency. The Wildcats will be without starting point guard Henri Veesaar, who is out for the tournament with an elbow injury suffered in the preseason.

Arizona is 19-16 ATS and 16-19 in hitting the over this season. They’ve covered the spread as favorites in two consecutive games, including as massive 20-point chalk in the tournament opener. Prior to that, however, they failed to cover -11.5 in the Pac-12 Semifinal.

Clemson vs Arizona Player Props

Clemson vs Arizona player props are now available, with Caleb Love sporting the highest point total on the board at 18.5. Oumar Ballo is projected to record the most rebounds at 10.5, while Love and Joseph Girard III share the highest three-point line.

A player prop bet we have locked in for this game is Chase Hunter Over 1.5 three-pointers made (available at DraftKings). The 6′ 4″ senior has gone over this line in three of his past five games and lands a favorable matchup Thursday.

Opposing teams are targeting Clemson’s frontcourt, as the Tigers rank 20th in the nation in average height. This focus is creating opportunities for Hunter on the perimeter. Look for him to cash this prop facing a Wildcats defense that ranks 134th nationally in defending beyond the arc.

Clemson vs Arizona Prop Pick:

• Chase Hunter Over 1.5 Three-Pointers Made (+105)

Clemson vs Arizona Prediction

This game features a clash of styles, with Arizona’s up-tempo, high-powered offense against Clemson’s slower pace and stingy defense. When making a Clemson vs Arizona prediction, consider which team will be more successful in integrating their respective styles.

For Clemson to pull off the upset, they need to control the tempo and limit Arizona’s transition opportunities. The Tigers must also improve their defense of the three-point line when facing a Wildcats offense that’s lethal from deep. If the Tigers can ugly up the game and keep the score in the 60s, they’ll give themselves a great chance.

Clemson’s adopted physical defensive mindset could pose legitimate challenges for Arizona. Furthermore, the Tigers have a stronger strength of schedule, highlighted by victories over New Mexico and Baylor. Players like Chase Hunter and Joe Gerard of Clemson also have prior experience defending Arizona’s star Love.

The moneyline winner is a toss-up, as the Tigers have upset potential while the Wildcats have the talent to pull away late. However, we can’t ignore that Clemson’s elite and physical defense has held six of its past seven opponents to 64 points or less, making the Tigers against the number the best value on this game.

CLEM vs AZ Pick:

• Clemson Tigers +7.5

The post Clemson vs Arizona Prediction, Odds & Player Props to Bet (March 28) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

It’s SEC vs ACC in the West Region Sweet 16 on Thursday as the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide ( 19-15 ATS) meet the #1 North Carolina Tar Heels ( 21-15 ATS) at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 6:50 pm PT (9:50 pm ET).

Alabama had a scare against Grand Canyon in the round of 32, but both Bama and UNC wound up covering their first and second-round matchups. Thursday’s Alabama vs UNC odds list the Tar Heels as a 4.5-point favorite.

Alabama vs North Carolina Odds

The moneyline odds set UNC as a -190 favorite to advance to the Elite Eight with Alabama a +160 underdog in Thursday’s college basketball odds. The total of 173.5 is 19 points higher than any of the other Sweet 16 games. (Gonzaga/Purdue has the second-highest at 154.5.)

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Odds as of March 27 at ESPN Bet North Carolina.

The winner will advance to face either #2 Arizona or #6 Clemson in the Elite Eight section of the March Madness bracket.

The Tar Heels remain the second-favorite to win the West Region at +170 in the Final Four odds. Alabama is third of the four remaining teams at +470. The #2 Arizona Wildcats, who have been the chalk since Selection Sunday, are the +120 favorites to reach the Final Four heading into their Sweet 16 matchup with #6 Clemson.

Tar Heels Dominating on Offense and Defense

North Carolina has used two solid all-around efforts to reach the Sweet 16. After running over #16 Wager (90-62) in the first round, the Tar Heels stormed back from an early 26-14 deficit to rout #9 Michigan State (85-69).

Despite playing at the 41st-fastest tempo in the nation, UNC has now held for of its last five opponents under 70 points, while scoring at least 80 in five of its past seven.

North Carolina heads into the Sweet 16 rated ninth overall at KenPom (sixth on defense) and 11th at Haslametrics. In addition to going 10-1 straight up in their last 11 games, the Heels are also 7-4 against the number in that span. At 19-15 for the season, UNC has a 55.9% cover rate.

Hubert Davis’ two senior leaders have both been at their best in the NCAA Tournament. Leading scorer RJ Davis (21.3 PPG, 3.4 APG) is averaging 21 points through the first two rounds, while Armando Bacot (14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG) is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds. Both were significant contributors on the UNC team that lost the 2022 national championship game to Kansas, combining for 29.8 PPG that season.

Alabama Gets by Grand Canyon Despite Cold Shooting

In the round of 32 against #12 Grand Canyon, the Tide did something I highly doubted they would in this tournament: win a game when they weren’t lighting it up from three. While Bama wound up covering the 5.5-point spread in a 72-61 win, the game was much closer than the final score suggests.

Grand Canyon held a 58-55 lead with six minutes to play before the Tide ended the game on a 17-3 run.

As he does most nights, Mark Sears (21.5 PPG, 4.2 APG) led Alabama with 26 points and was a respectable 8-of-18 from the field. But as a team, the Tide shot a woeful 24-of-56 from the floor (36.9%) and just 8-of-31 from beyond the arc (25.8%), all well below their season averages. A +9 differential on the glass helped overcome the ice-cold shooting.

Alabama remains a top-20 team at KenPom entirely due to its shooting. The Tide are ninth in the nation in two-point percentage (57.4%) and 31st out of all 362 DI teams in three-point percentage (36.7%). Despite the off night on Sunday, Alabama’s offense remains fourth in adjusted efficiency. It’s defense, however, is still outside the top 100 (101st).

Alabama vs UNC Player Props

College basketball player props from DraftKings on March 27.

Davis has the highest point total of the night in the Alabama/UNC player props, sitting at 22.5 O/U, which is one point higher than Sears (21.5). Bacot’s rebound total of 11.5 is three higher than any other player on the board. No one on the Tide is over 6.5.

Alabama vs North Carolina Prediction

The Tide were lucky to be facing an undersized Grand Canyon on a night when their shots weren’t falling. The Tide were able to scoop up 20 offensive rebounds on 41 missed field goals.

That is not something that will repeat against UNC. The Tar Heels are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation – at both ends of the court. North Carolina sits 74th in offensive-rebound percentage (32.6%) and sixth on defense (76.8%). UNC’s defense is also 15th in DI in effective field-goal percentage, holding opponents to a 46.5 EFG%.

On nights when Bama is knocking down threes, they are obviously a hard team to beat. They play at a breakneck pace (eighth-fastest tempo) and can open up double-digit gaps in minutes. But few teams manage to score in bunches against the large, long, tenacious UNC defense.

BAMA vs UNC pick: North Carolina -4.5 (-110)

The post Alabama vs North Carolina Predictions, Picks & Player Props for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Duke absolutely crushed #12 James Madison 93-55 in the second round of the March Madness tournament. The Blue Devils started the game hot from behind the three-point line and never cooled off. They carried a 22-point lead into halftime and only built upon it in the second half.

Houston’s Round of 32 matchup with Texas A&M was much closer, as the largest lead by either side was just 13 points and the South Region’s top seed was given a late-game scare. The team given the second-best odds to win the NCAA Tournament watched their opponent hit a three at the buzzer to force overtime, and had to play without two of their stars for most of the extra period. The #1 Houston Cougars did hang on to beat the Aggies 100-95, though, advancing to the Sweet 16 to take on Duke.

The game is scheduled for Friday, March 29 at 9:39pm ET. (However, tip-off might come a little later since the official timing is “after the conclusion of NC State vs Marquette.”) The opening odds for Duke vs Houston in the Sweet 16 favor Houston.

Duke vs Houston Odds

Houston opened as 4-point favorites over Duke in their Sweet 16 matchup.

Houston’s moneyline odds are set at -192 and Duke’s at +160. Based off those odds, Houston has a 65.8% chance to win the game. If you bet $20 on Houston to win, you would stand to profit $10.42 and return $30.42. That same $20 bet on Duke would win $32 and return $52.

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The over/under for total points in Duke vs Houston has opened at 133, which is by far the lowest of the Sweet 16.

The opening odds above are from DraftKings on Sunday, March 24. To see the the latest lines, see our college basketball odds.

Duke Makes Quick Work of James Madison in Round of 32

After convincingly beating #5 Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, James Madison had become a bit of a tournament sweetheart. The vast majority of the ATS money bet on the JMU vs Duke game was indeed on the Dukes. But their backers were silenced pretty quickly, as Duke took a 10-point lead just five minutes into the game, and the Blue Devils never let up.

It didn’t help that Terrence Edwards Jr, the Dukes’ best player and the Sun Belt Player of the Year, found himself in foul trouble early in the game, forcing him to the bench.

Jared Mccain is the best Duke shooter since ____?pic.twitter.com/rfXQz1ebzn

— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) March 24, 2024

The Blue Devils opened the game shooting the ball well, but it was their effort on the offensive glass that led to some open shots to get the team going. Duke finished the game shooting 52.4% from the field but were a scorching 50% from downtown, making 14 of their 28 attempts. Jared McCain was incredible, going 8-11 from three while pouring in 30 points.

Duke’s offense was impressive all night, specifically with their ball movement. They recorded 22 assists to James Madison’s seven. Not only were they creating open shots by sharing the ball, but also continued to find the hot hands.

If Duke shoots the ball this well, they’re going to be tough for anyone. However, thanks an extremely tough matchup ahead in the Sweet 16, Duke now has the third-best odds to make the Final Four.

Houston Outlasts Texas A&M in Second Round

Though it was far from Houston’s best performance of the year, the Cougars always felt in control of their second round matchup with Texas A&M.

Houston gave up ten offensive rebounds in the first half and committed 14 personal fouls before the break. All the fouls led to Texas A&M shooting 22 free throws in the first half alone, but were only able to hit 11 of them. LJ Cryer, who shot 39.1% from behind the three-point line this season, and Jamal Shead, who was a 32.1% three-point shooter entering this one, combined to go 0-8 from downtown in the first half. In spite of all that, Houston still led by five entering the second half.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was much better than the first for Kelvin Sampson’s squad. However, they would finish the game allowing 22 offensive rebounds, allowing A&M to add another 12 in the second half, and still committed 14 more fouls after the break. The offense remained a little off and they committed a few bad, uncharacteristic turnovers, but the defense flexed their muscle for about 15 of the 20 minutes.

WE ARE HEADING TO OVERTIME IN TEXAS A&M-HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/rBEglzmBn2

— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) March 25, 2024

The most concerning part for Houston has to be the way they crumbled in the last couple minutes of the game, as Texas A&M ramped up the pressure. Houston’s offense failed to put the game away as they committed some bad turnovers and missed some open shots. Their defense all of a sudden reverted back to the one we saw in the first half, giving up offensive rebounds and committing bad fouls. The Cougars allowed the Aggies three chances to tie the game in the final seconds, with A&M hitting the final three-point attempt at the buzzer to force overtime.

Even without LJ Cryer, who fouled out with a few minutes left in the second half, for the entire overtime period and losing Emanuel Sharp (their leading scorer) very early in overtime, as well as the momentum working against them after allowing A&M to tie it at the buzzer, Houston would still hold on and escape the first weekend, beating A&M 100-95.

The post Duke vs Houston Odds for Sweet 16 Matchup – Cougars Open as Favorites Over Blue Devils appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

In a very chalky West Region, the #1 North Carolina Tar Heels will face the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina has opened as the favorite in what projects to be a fast-paced, high-scoring game. The West Regional Sweet 16 will take place at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, March 28.

Alabama vs North Carolina Odds

UNC has opened as 3.5-point favorites against the spread in the Alabama vs North Carolina odds.

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North Carolina Counterpunch KOs Michigan State

After blowing by #16 Wagner in their tournament-opener (85-61), the Tar Heels were in trouble early against #9 Michigan State in the second round. MSU was up 26-14 midway through the first half and, at that point, had a 72.5% win probability according to KenPom. But the Tar Heels would go on a 26-3 run (which spanned halftime) to take a double-digit lead that was never seriously threatened.

UNC’s three leading scorers all had big games. Senior guard RJ Davis (21.3 PPG) led the way with 20 points, while senior forward Armando Bacot added 18 points and seven rebounds and  junior wing Harrison Ingram had 17 points and seven boards.

Davis also had a team-high 22 against Wagner and has scored at least 20 in each of his last four games.

North Carolina currently sits ninth at KenPom and was as high as sixth earlier in the season. They won the ACC regular-season title with a 17-3 record in conference play before losing in the ACC Tournament final to NC State.

Last season, Alabama took a four-overtime thriller against UNC (103-101) in Portland as part of the Phil Knight Invitational. While both teams have several new faces in their rotations, their current stars were (mostly) part of that game. Mark Sears led Alabama with 24 points and five assists. Bacot had 20 points and 10 rebounds for UNC, while Davis added 19 points, nine boards, and four dimes.

Alabama Offense Stays Hot

All season, Alabama has paired an elite offense with a highly-suspect defense. Its first-round game with #13 Charleston exemplified that dynamic to a tee. With senior guard Mark Sears scoring a game-high 30 points, the Tide hit triple-digits for the eighth time this season in a 109-93 victory. Alabama shot 60% from the field, including 56.5% from three (13-of-23).

Bama’s second-round game with #12 Grand Canyon was a much tamer affair by comparison. After Alabama took an eight-point lead into halftime (38-30), Grand Canyon would storm back in the second to take a 58-55 lead with six minutes to play. But Bama went on a 14-3 run to end the game and, with it, GCU’s 30-win season.

Sears led the way again with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. The Second-Team All-American has now scored at least 20 points in 15 of his last 16 games, including eight in a row.

Alabama sits 14th overall at KenPom (and 15th at Haslametrics). Their offense is fourth in efficiency, while their defense was just 118th before the GCU game.

The winner of Alabama vs UNC will face the winner of #6 Clemson vs #2 Arizona on Saturday, March 30.

The post Alabama vs North Carolina Odds – Tar Heels Favored in Sweet 16 Matchup appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.