NCAA Colllege Sports Betting News

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UCLA Bruins vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Final Four Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions

UCLA Bruins vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Picks, Lines And Predictions

The second NCAA Final Four matchup will feature two teams making history. UCLA is only the second team ever to come this far from the First Four. On the other side, Gonzaga can become the first school since 1976 with a perfect season.

The Bruins are without a doubt the best story of the tournament. They arrived with a 17-9 regular-season record and a 4-game losing streak but surprised everybody with their tournament run. To get here, UCLA won twice in the overtime and edged Michigan by only 2 points in the Final 8. They have covered the spread in all five games, entering 4 of them as an underdog. Historically, the Bruins are no strangers to Final Four, having won 11 championships. However, the last one came way back in 1995.

Gonzaga came to the tournament as a leading contender and has fully justified all the hype. They’re demolishing their rivals, storming through the bracket with an average margin of 21.4 points. The Bulldogs have also covered the spread in all matchups so far. Over the whole season, they’re now 30-0 straight up and 16-12-2 ATS.

UCLA Bruins vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Final Four Betting Odds And Line Movement

The opening odds favored Gonzaga by -13.5. The line has even moved up since then, now standing at -14. It’s one of the largest spreads ever in Final Four, and the biggest one since 1999. The total has opened at 146, but with early money favoring the Under, it has dropped to 145.5.

Notes On The UCLA Bruins

Since coming to the tournament UCLA has raised its defense to another level. Their impressive defensive performance brought them the OT win against Alabama and kept Michigan quiet in the last few minutes. Before the tournament, the Bulldogs ranked only 108th in the nation in points allowed. Still, they’ll have to find another level defensively if they are to stand any chance on Saturday. Furthermore, they’ll need to be much more efficient on offense, and have more players step up. Against Michigan, only 5 Bruins scored points.

So far, Johnny Juzang has carried a gigantic part of the load on offense. The sophomore guard is leading the team in scoring with 21.6 ppg at the tournament. Besides, he hit a ton of clutch and incredibly difficult shots.

Notes On The Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Bulldogs came to the tournament as one of the best offensive teams ever and have more than lived up to the expectations. The ease with which they score points is astonishing even as an average 3-point shooting team. The UCS was touted as perhaps the best defensive team at the tournament and still got torched by the Bulldogs with 85 points. So far, no team has managed to keep up with their frantic pace. The Zags have also made significant strides on defense. They’re keeping rivals to 39.84% from the field and a measly 28% from beyond the arc.

The trouble with stopping Gonzaga is that they have threats all over the floor. The offensive four-headed monster features Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, and Joel Ayayi. In this group, Ayayi has the lowest scoring average with more than a decent 13.8 ppg. The four of them are shooting a combined 45.25% from the field.

UCLA Bruins vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Final Four Betting Pick: UCLA +14

Gonzaga looks unstoppable, but the +14 spread is still too much for the Final Four. UCLA is tough and resilient and will do everything possible to slow the Bulldogs down. If they manage to get more players involved on offense, the Bruins should be able to extend their ATS streak.

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Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions

Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions

The first Final Four betting matchup will bring us an All-Texas matchup. On Saturday, Baylor will take on Houston for a place in the Championship Game.

The Bears have stormed through the South Region. They disposed of their opponents with an average margin of victory of 14.25 points. They have now covered the spread in 3 consecutive games and won 8 out of 9 straight up. Over the whole season, they hold the 26-2 record, with 18-10 against the spread. This is a historic moment for Baylor as they’ve reached the Final Four for the first time after 71 years.

Houston had luck on their side when it comes to the Final four betting schedule. All of their opponents so far have been double-digit seeds. Still, the Cougars have been quite impressive this season. They’re now on the 11-game winning streak. They’ve won 28 games this season, losing only 3 times. Their record against the spread is 21-10. The Cougars have also waited long for a Final Four appearance. This will be their first since 1984.

Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Line Movement

The opening Final four betting odds favored Baylor by -5 and the line has been steady since. The total, on the other hand, has dropped a bit. It opened at 136 and now stands at 134.5 at most bookies.

Notes On The Houston Cougars

In the Final 8, Houston continued with perhaps the most dominant defensive performances at the tournament. They’ve kept Oregon State at only 31 points and that’s the only time the Cougars have allowed more than 60 points so far. Their defense more than makes up for their occasional struggles on the other side of the court. Another aspect of the game that got them this far is their success on the boards. They’ve outrebounded the Beavers 41 to 19 including incredible 19 offensive rebounds. It’s the part of the game where they may seek their chance against Baylor. The defensive rebounding is probably the weakest spot for the Bears and they allowed Arkansas 11 offensive boards in the Elite 8 matchup.

The guard duo Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser continues to lead the Cougars through the tournament. The two combined for 38 points against the Beavers.

Notes On The Baylor Bears

The Bears have proven to be one of the most balanced and complete teams in the tournament. They dominate the offense scoring 74.5 points per game. And, they’re no pushovers on defense. They’ve allowed only 60.3 points per game so far. Furthermore, they have the necessary athleticism and strength not to be bullied by Houston’s defense. Plus, the Bears lead the nation in threes and have shoot 8-15 from the deep against Arkansas. And, defending the three is the one aspect of the Houston defense they don’t excel at. Baylor also takes care of the ball well and doesn’t commit a lot of turnovers. While they are only so-so on the defensive glass, they’re one of the best in the nation in the offensive rebounding.

Baylor key Final four betting players are also on guard positions. Senior MaCio Teague led the way against Arkansas with 22 points. The leading scorer, Jared Butler, added 14.

Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Pick: Under 134.5

In a Final four betting matchup between two elite defenses, there’s no way to go but UNDER. We expect a tightly contested and low-scoring game.

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UCLA Bruins vs Michigan Wolverine Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

UCLA Bruins vs Michigan Wolverines BETTING PICKS

The Bruins will look to extend their amazing run through March Madness as they face the top-seeded Wolverines. The battle for the last spot in Final Four will take place on Tuesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

UCLA (21-9) started their run in the First Four and is now one of the two lowest seeds still alive. The college basketball powerhouse came to the tournament on a four-game losing streak. However, looked like a different team in Indianapolis winning four straight games, two in overtime. The Bruins are now looking to become only the second team ever to advance to the Final Four after starting in the First Four.

Michigan also had a run of bad form before the tournament. They lost 3 out of the last 5 games before coming to Indianapolis. But, the Wolverines have been very convincing in the first three rounds. Their average margin of victory in the tournament is 15.3 points. They now have a 23-4 record this season and 19-8 against the spread. When favored, the Wolverines have covered the spread 13 times in their last 19 games.

UCLA Bruins vs Michigan Wolverines Elite 8 Betting Odds And Line Movement

There hasn’t been much movement since the bookies published the opening lines. Michigan opened as -7 favorites and the line is back at that number after bouncing to -7.5 for a brief time. On the other hand, the total was significantly shrunk from 138.5 to 136 with early money coming in on the UNDER.

Notes On The UCLA Bruins

In the Sweet 16 game, the Bruins were on the receiving end of the soul-crushing buzzer-beater to take the game to overtime. Most of the teams would’ve found it hard to recover and just folded. UCLA went on to score incredible 23 points and shut down Alabama to win the game in the additional 5 minutes. It’s a great illustration of the confidence they’re playing with right now. Plus, they went to the overtime without their best scorer Johnny Juzang. They made it through to the Final Eight mainly by playing tough and hard. They weren’t particularly efficient. The Bruins shot 39.2 from the field. However, they managed to keep one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country to only 25.0% from the deep. The biggest question for UCLA is how they’re going to handle fatigue from four games in a short span, including two overtimes. Wolverines are a big, strong, and physical side and will look to tire out the Bruins for the start.

Sophomore guard Johnny Juzang leads five UCLA players scoring in double-digits. Juzang averages 15.0 points per game.

Notes On The Michigan Wolverines

After they lost leading scorer Isiah Livers, many have written of the Wolverines. Still, they’ve delivered impressive performance even in his absence. They’ve dismantled Texas Southern, struggled a bit with LSU, but the real statement came in the Sweet 16. They’ve destroyed No. 4 Florida State in a game they controlled from start to finish. They controlled the paint and shot 49% from the field. The Wolverines also shared the ball well with 19 assists for 29 made shots. On defense, they were tough under the rim and forced the Seminoles to take the tough shots.

In Livers’ absence, Michigan’s frontcourt stepped up and took the leading role. Hunter Dickinson, a freshman center, dominated against Florida State with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Forward Brandon Jones Jr. added 14 points of his own and 6 rebounds.

UCLA Bruins vs Michigan Wolverines Elite 8 Betting Pick: Over 136

It’s hard to believe that UCLA will be able to keep their defensive intensity for the fifth game in a row. Michigan will likely try to run as much as possible to drain the energy from the Bruins. It should result in a fast-paced and high-scoring game.

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USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Predictions, Picks & Lines

The West Region Elite 8 matchup will feature the two most dominant schools in this year’s tournament. On Tuesday evening, No. 1 seed Gonzaga will take on No. 6 USC. Both teams have won all their games so far by double digits. The game will also feature two projected top-5 draft picks in Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs.

Gonzaga comes to the game with a 29-0 record this season, going 15-12-2 ATS. They have easily covered the spread in all first three rounds. At the moment, they hold the NCAA Division I record with 26 straight double-digit wins. The Bulldogs will try to become the first team to finish the season with a perfect record since 1976. Gonzaga is no stranger to this stage of the NCAA tournament, as this is their fourth Elite 8 appearance over the last 7 years.

While the Zags were expected to dominate, the Trojans impressed everyone with their convincing tournament run. They came to March Madness with a 25-7 record, going 19-13 against the spread. USC won 6 out of the last 7 games, losing only to Colorado in the PAC 12 Tournament final. Just like Gonzaga, they were successful against the spread in the first three games.

USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Elite 8 Betting Odds And Line Movement

The opening lines favored Gonzaga at -9.5. Early action on USC caused the line to shift to -9. The total was initially set at 155. With a lot of money going on UNDER, the line is now at 153.5 at most online bookies.

Notes On The USC Trojans

USC looks like a team possessed since the start of the tournament. They’ve easily dealt with three solid opponents – Drake, Kansas, and Oregon. The Trojans have scored almost 80 points in three games, but the deciding factor is still their suffocating defense. They are the second tallest team in Division I and expertly use their size and length on the defensive end. They block the most shots in the nation, are among the best rebounding teams, and clamp the opposing guards on the perimeter. They’ve kept Drake and Kansas to below 30% from the field and Oregon to 37.7%. On offense, they shot over 50% in all three tournament games and dominate the offensive glass. However, they tend to be careless with the ball, with 27 turnovers combined in the last two games.

The star of the team is undoubtedly Evan Mobley. His scoring dropped in the tournament, but he managed to post two double-doubles and block 8 shots. His brother, Isiah, also demands a lot of attention with a combination of size and shooting range. Two guards, Tahj Eaddy and Isaiah White, both came up huge in the last game, scoring 20+ points each.

Notes On The Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Bulldogs continued their tournament rampage with an 83-65 drubbing of Creighton in Sweet 16. Their average win margin at the tournament now stands at an impressive 25.7 points. On offense, they’ve been unstoppable with threats coming from all over the court. They lead Division I in scoring with 91.8 ppg, field goal percentage with 55.1%, and rank third in assists with 18.6 dishes per game. While posting these fantastic offensive numbers, they’re also a stout defensive team. At the moment, KenPom ranks them seventh in the adjusted defensive efficiency. In the tournament, the Zags have allowed their opponents only 63.7 points per game.

Three leading contenders for the MOP award are all on the Gonzaga team. The All-American trio of Corey Kispert, Drew Timme, and Jalen Suggs is capable of destroying rivals in any given game. In addition, all five starters are scoring in double digits so far in the postseason.

USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Elite 8 Betting Pick: USC +9

The Bulldogs are still favorites to win, but the Trojans have all the necessary weapons to counter the offensive juggernaut that is Gonzaga. USC has an advantage in size and on the boards and should be able to keep this one close.

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Oregon State Beavers vs Houston Cougars Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

Oregon State Beavers vs Houston Cougars Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

No. 12 seed, Oregon State, will try to extend its Cinderella Elite 8 betting run as they face No.2 Houston in the first game of the Elite Eight. The game takes place on Monday evening at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Beavers have already knocked out three higher seeds to get here. Their unlikely run started three weeks ago when they won the PAC 12 Tournament as a fifth seed. They have now won six consecutive games and 9 out of the last 10. Besides, Oregon State has been one of the most profitable teams during the last 10 weeks. They went 18-3-1 ATS over that stretch. The Beavers now post a 20-12 record for the whole season.

The Cougars are on an unbeaten run of their own. They have now gone 10 games without losing. Over the season, Houston is 27-3 SU and has a 21- 9 ATS record. They brought their regular-season form to Indianapolis and are hoping for the first Final 4 since 1984.

Oregon State Beavers vs Houston Cougars Elite 8 Betting Line Movement

Opening Elite 8 betting odds favored the Cougars at -8.5. However, Oregon State’s recent ATS streak drove most of the early action their way, moving the line to -8. Some bookies even have it at -7.5. The total opened at 131 and dropped slightly since, to 130 at most sportsbooks.

Notes On The Oregon State Beavers

On both sides of the court, Oregon State owned the three-point line so far. They’ve been scorching hot from beyond the Elite 8 betting arc lately, shooting 41.8% in the last six games. Their overall shot percentage isn’t that spectacular but they get to the line a lot and make most of their free throws. In the Sweet 16, they shot 18-20 from the line. Defensively, the Beavers are aggressive on the perimeter and don’t give away any easy shots. In the last round, Loyola Chicago shot 5-23 from the deep and had an ugly 33% from the field. Over the entire postseason, The Beavers are holding their opponents at a 38% field goal percentage.

The key player for the Oregon State is Ethan Thomas. The senior guard raised his game to another level since arriving at the tournament. Thomas averaged 15.8 ppg this season, but over the three March Madness rounds, he’s averaging 20.3 points.

Notes On The Houston Cougars

The Cougars got through to Elite Eight by doing what they do best – playing defense. After the second-round scare against Rutgers, they held Syracuse in the Sweet 16 to only 46 points, 5 assists, and an abysmal 5-23 from three. As good as Oregon State is defensively, Houston is even better. Over the season, they rank as the 2nd best defensive team in the country. However, they do have some issues on offense. The Cougars often struggle to score and shoot only 38.3 from the field against the Orange. Luckily for them, they dominate on the boards, especially on offense. They outrebounded their rivals so far 118-74, including 43-22 on the offensive boards. The Cougars scored 40 second-chance points in the first three rounds.

The AAC Player of the Year, Quentin Grimes is leading the team in scoring. Grimes has 18.0 points per game, plus 8.0 Elite 8 betting rebounds.

Oregon State Beavers Houston Cougars Elite 8 Betting Pick: UNDER 130

The Elite 8 betting total may seem low, but considering who’s playing, not so much. The Cougars look like the best defensive team at the tournament, and the Beavers are no joke at that end either. Both teams prefer to play at a slow pace, so expect this one to be a low-scoring slugfest.

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Arkansas Razorbacks vs Baylor Bears Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

Arkansas Razorbacks vs Baylor Bears Elite 8 Betting Picks, Lines, Predictions & Odds

After surviving scares in the Sweet 16, Baylor and Arkansas will battle in some Elite 8 betting action for the Final Four spot on Sunday night. The South Region seems to be the only one to deliver an expected Elite 8 matchup.

Baylor is looking at a historic success for the school. If they beat Arkansas, they’ll reach Final 4 for the first time since 1948. At the start of the season, they were seen as one of the best two teams in the nation. However, Covid-19 issues slowed them down and they ended up losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament. Still, they had a pretty dominant season going 25-2 and 17-10 against the spread. They returned to form in the NCAA tournament with three double-digit wins.

Arkansas wasn’t anywhere near that convincing, winning their last two games by thin margins. The Razorbacks ended the regular season with a 21-5 record, their highest win percentage since 1995. It was also the last year the Hogs went to Final Four. So far this season, they’re 20-10 ATS and have covered the spread in the last three games as the underdog.

Arkansas Razorbacks Baylor Bears Elite 8 Betting Line Movement

After a great run in the tournament so far, Baylor opened as -6.5. Their form attracted a lot of early money pushing the Elite 8 betting line to -7.5. The matchup between two dynamic offenses is expected to deliver a fast-paced game and the total opened at 150. It has dropped a bit since, and now standing at 148.5.

Notes On The Baylor Bears

After trailing by 7 at halftime, Baylor needed a dominant second half to get past Villanova. They did just that, destroying the Wildcats by 18 since the break. The Bears came to Sweet 16 as the top 3-point team in the country. However, against the Wildcats they proved that they have plenty of other weapons in their arsenal. They were ice-cold from three, shooting 3-19. In the second half, they switched their focus to attacking the rim and ended the period with 28 points in the paint. The Bears also stepped up on defense, keeping Villanova to 21 second-half points and forcing 16 turnovers.

The Bears are led by their dynamic guard-duo of Jared Butler and MaCio Teague. The NBA prospect, Butler, is the leading scorer averaging 16.6 ppg. Besides, Baylor also has plenty of depth. As both star guards underperformed in Sweet 16, Adam Flagler stepped up scoring 16 from the bench.

Notes On The Arkansas Razorbacks

With 15 minutes left, Arkansas was trailing by 12 points to No. 15 seed Oral Roberts. It took a late rally and a missed buzzer-beater from the Golden Eagles to get them to Elite Eight. The Hogs have now won all three tournament games after being down by double digits. They’ve also done the same thing 11 times this season. It’s a testament to their determination and grit, but also coach Musselman’s ability to make in-play adjustments. Arkansas is one of the highest-scoring and most dynamic teams in the nation, but it was mostly their defense that got them through the first three Elite 8 betting rounds. They now rank 26th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. Still, to get by Baylor, they’ll have to rediscover their offensive mojo. Over the last five games, they’re only 42% from the field, and 25% from the deep. They do have a size advantage over the Bears and we can expect them to attack the rim and push the ball inside as much as possible.

The leading scorer, Moses Moody, averages 17.0 ppg. However, he struggled against Oral Roberts going 4-20 from the field. To have any chance against Baylor, the Hogs will need him at his best.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs Baylor Bears Elite 8 Betting Pick: Baylor -7.5

The Razorbacks had a great regular season and are not in the Elite 8 betting action by accident. Still, they rode their luck a lot in the first three rounds. Baylor is on a different level and climbing out of a hole won’t be that easy. The Bears are an experienced and balanced team, with no obvious weak spots. They will look to control the game on both ends of the court from the get-go.

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UCLA Bruins vs Alabama Crimson Tide Sweet 16 Betting Picks, Odds & Lines

UCLA Bruins vs Alabama Crimson Tide Sweet 16 Betting Picks & Lines

The No.2 seed in the East, Alabama, cruised through the first two rounds. Now, they’re facing the Cinderella of the region, No. 11 UCLA, with the Elite Eight place on the line.

The Crimson Tide is coming to the game on an 8-game winning streak. Besides, they won 11 of the last 12 games. Over the season they posted the 26-6 record, going 18-13-1 against the spread. On the road to Sweet 16, they easily dispatched Iona and Maryland. This is the eighth regional semifinal for Alabama in 21 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The Bruins came to the tournament after four straight losses. In total, they are 20-9 for the season, with a 15-14 ATS record. To get to this stage, UCLA needed three wins. They sneaked through the First Four, against Michigan State, before producing an impressive performance vs BYU. The Lady Luck smiled on them in the Second Round as they went against the No.14 seed, Abilene Christian. The Bruins won easily 67-47.

UCLA Bruins vs Alabama Crimson Tide Sweet 16 Betting Line Movement

Alabama opened as -5.5 favorites and the line has gone even further up to -6.5. It’s still one of the lowest spreads his season in the Crimson tide’s favor. The total was initially set at 143.5, but early action on OVER pushed the line to 145.5.

Notes On The UCLA Bruins

The Bruins got through the first three rounds on the back of their aggressive defense, strong rebounding, and efficient offense. They’re very careful with the ball, committing only 20 turnovers in three games. They play at a methodical pace, ranking 337th in tempo in the country. The key against Alabama will be stopping their three-point shooting and transition offense. UCLA has plenty of experience with trigger-happy teams in PAC 12, but they allowed the second-highest three-point attempt rate. If the Crimson Tide gets hot from three, it could spell trouble for the Bruins. However, UCLA should be able to keep up with Alabama’s running as they’re in the 94th percentile in transition defense.

Coach Mick Cronin has a balanced roster at his disposal. Five players are averaging double-digit points. Still, the go-to scorer is shooting guard Johnny Juzang who has 69 points from the first three games.

Notes On The Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is coming off a game in which they set a school record for made three-pointers. They scorched Maryland with 16 made shots for the deep and are virtually unstoppable if they get hot. Coach Oates likes to spread the floor and allows his players to shoot from almost anywhere. They also like to run in transition and aggressively go after offensive rebounds. They have 10 or more offensive boards in the last ten games. On defense, they should be able to deal with UCLA’s pick and roll-heavy attack. The Crimson Tide is probably the best team in the country in this department. Overall, they’re second in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The strong defense is anchored by Herb Jones. The senior forward is the SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year. On the other side of the court, the Crimson Tide is led by Jaden Shackelford who averages 14.3 ppg.

UCLA Bruins vs Alabama Crimson Tide Sweet 16 Betting Pick: Alabama -6.5

UCLA did well so far in the tournament, but their opponents were nowhere near Alabama’s level. The Crimson Tide is solid in all areas and it will be difficult for the Bruins to find a weak spot.

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Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions

Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Picks & Lines

So far, the PAC 12 schools have dominated the March Madness Sweet 16 betting action. They have 9 wins combined and only one loss. Two of the conference powerhouses will square off on Sunday night as No. 7 seed Oregon takes on No. 6 USC in a battle for Elite Eight. The two teams met only once this season, with the Trojans notching a 72-58 home victory.

Since that loss in February, the Ducks won 8 games out of 9, losing only to Oregon State in PAC 12 Tournament semifinals. Over the season they’re 21-6 SU and 15-12 ATS. Under coach Dana Altman, Oregon has missed the Big Dance only once in the last 8 years. On each of those appearances, they’ve won at least one game and won to Sweet 16 five times.

USC has a 24-7 overall record this season, covering the spread in 15 games. This will be their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2007 and only second for head coach Andy Enfield. They played some superb basketball since the beginning of February going 12-1 before losing to Colorado in the PAC 12 Tournament semifinals.

Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Line Movement

The opening Sweet 16 betting odds favored USC by -1. A bit of early action going against the Trojans moved the line up a little, to -2 at most sportsbooks. The total was initially set at 138 where it stands now after rising 139 during the week.

Notes On The USC Trojans

After their performances last weekend, the Trojans are seen by many as potential dark horses to go all the Sweet 16 betting way. They opened the tournament easily disposing of the Drake 72-56, but the real statement came in the Second Round. USC pummeled Kansas 85-51 for the third-worst loss in the Jayhawks’ history. Led by the Mobley brothers, USC dominated on both sides of the court. Their length and athleticism on defense were a problem for the opponents all year. Since the middle of January, the Trojans have allowed more than 72 points only once. At the moment they rank fifth in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, Oregon is a tough team to match up with as all members of their starting five shoot over 36% from the deep. The defense at the 3-point line will be the key for the Trojans. In their previous matchup, they kept the Ducks to only seven made threes and won comfortably.

The Trojans are led by a potential to-5 draft pick Evan Mobley. The freshman 7-footer is PAC 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Mobley is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per contest.

Notes On The Oregon Ducks

The Ducks automatically advanced to the Second Round after VCU was forced to forfeit due to the Covid-19 protocols. However, they were more than impressive in the Second round beating No. 2 seed Iowa by 15. It was a masterclass on offense against one of the best Sweet 16 betting teams in the country. Plenty of assists led to easy points and Oregon shot over 52% for the fifth straight game. Currently, the Ducks rank 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency. Still, there are some worrisome issues on the other end of the court. The squad is undersized and has problems defending inside and protecting the rim. In the Iowa game, Hawkeyes’ star Luka Garza abused Oregon’s interior defense scoring 36 and adding 9 rebounds. It’s easy to see Evan Mobley having a field day under the rim on Sunday night.

Oregon has a well-balanced team with all five starters averaging double-digits. The standout is certainly lead guard Chris Duarte who averages 17.0 ppg. Against Iowa, Duarte scored 23 on only 12 shots.

Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Pick: Over 138

We can expect a slower Sweet 16 betting game compared to what we’ve seen in the previous round. Still, it’s a duel of two excellent and efficient offenses. Oregon’s guard-dominated lineup could easily get hot from the three while USC will feast under the basket and on second-chance points. In addition, the last 8 of Oregon’s games went OVER.

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Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears Sweet 16 Betting Picks, Odds, & Lines

Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears Sweet 16 Betting Picks & Lines

The Baylor – Villanova matchup could easily be the most exciting Sweet 16 betting game in Sweet 16. The Wildcats and The Bears are both coming off two double-digit wins in the first two rounds.

Villanova fans are hoping that history will repeat itself. The last two times the school reached this stage of the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2018, they went on to win the championship. This season, the Wildcats are 18-6, covering the spread 14 times. With two convincing wins in the opening rounds, they managed to bounce back from two straight defeats prior to March Madness. Villanova lost to Providence in the last game of the regular season. In the Big East Tournament, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Georgetown.

Baylor (24-2 SU, 16-10 ATS) also ran into trouble in their Conference Tournament. They were stopped in the Big 12 semifinals by Oklahoma State. However, next to Gonzaga, they played the best basketball in the NCAA tournament so far. They dominated in the first two rounds against Hartford and Wisconsin.

Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears Sweet 16 Betting Line Movement

Baylor opened as a -6.5 Sweet 16 betting chalk when the lines came out. With most of the early money going their way, the line moved to -7.5. The total surged from the opening 138.5 to 141.5 where it stands at the moment. You can even find it as high as 142 at some sportsbooks.

Notes On The Villanova Wildcats

Villanova breezed through the first two rounds even without the star guard Collin Gillespie. But, it should be noted that it was against teams from Big South and Conference USA. In Sweet 16, they’ll face the elite opposition for the first time in the tournament. To get anything out of Saturday’s game they’ll have to continue their hot shooting streak. The Wildcats hit 15 threes against North Texas and shot 41.8% from the deep in the first two games combined. However, they’re shooting only 35.8% from the three-point line for the season. Expect them to struggle against Baylor’s aggressive perimeter defense.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Justin Moore stepped up in Gillespie’s absence in the opening Sweet 16 betting games. However, Baylor’s defense is a whole different proposition. Especially for Justin Moore who will go against one of the best on-ball defenders in the nation, Davion Mitchell.

Interesting Article: Baylor Odds-On Favorite to Go to Final Four: March Madness South Region

Notes On The Baylor Bears

Over the last weekend, the bears looked like a legit championship contender. They easily disposed of Hartford and Wisconsin mainly thanks to their suffocating defense. They managed to keep the No. 9 seed Wisconsin to below one point per possession. On offense, they’re a danger from all sides and angles and are currently in the hot shooting form. The Bears went over 40% from the deep in the last seven games. Overall, they rank 4th in the nation in scoring with 83.8 points per game.

Baylor has a deep and experienced Sweet 16 betting roster starting five upperclassmen. In the game against Wisconsin, the Bears got some unexpected production from the bench with Matthew Mayer scoring 17 points. Still, most of the offense revolves around Jared Butler. The junior guard is the 7th-best player in the country per KenPom, averaging 16.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.1 steals.

Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears Sweet 16 Betting Pick: Baylor -7.5

Even with the inflated Sweet 16 betting line, Baylor should be too much for Villanova in this matchup. The Bears had issues covering the spread earlier in the season, but they ended the ATS skid in a dominant win over Wisconsin. Villanova will feel the absence of their star player and have a lot of trouble scoring.

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Syracuse Orange vs Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Betting Picks, Odds, & Lines

Syracuse Orange vs Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Betting Picks & Lines

The No. 2 seed Houston will battle No. 1 Syracuse for the Sweet 16 betting place in the Elite Eight in the Sweet 16 matchup on Saturday night. The Cougars haven’t been to Elite Eight since 1984. The Orange are in the Sweet 16 for the 20th time under coach Boeheim.

The Boeheim father-son duo led the Orange to two wins against the higher-seeded teams last weekend. They sneaked past the No. 3 seed West Virginia 76-73 after trashing the No. 6 San Diego State 78-62. Syracuse has now covered the spread in six consecutive games. Overall this season they are 18-9 straight up.

Houston dealt easily with Cleveland State to win by 31 in the first round, but barely got past Rutgers thanks to the 14-2 run to win 60-56. The Cougars have now won 9 games in a row. They lost only three times this season and went 19-9 against the spread.

Syracuse Orange vs Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Betting Line Movement

Opening Sweet 16 betting odds favored Houston by -6.5 and the line hasn’t changed much since. It bounced to -6 a couple of times but now it’s back to -6.5. The total also hasn’t seen much movement, opening at 140 and slightly increasing to 140.5.

Notes On The Syracuse Orange

The Orange has hit the form just at the right time. Syracuse won 5 out of the last 6 games. In the opening games, they were insanely hot from the deep, hitting 29 threes combined. They’re probably the hottest shooting team in the country right now, having hit double-digit threes in 4 out of the last 5 games. The only time Syracuse got cold was in a loss to Virginia. Also, they played fantastic defense keeping both first-weekend opponents below 40% from the field. We’ll see how coach Boeheim’s trademark 2-3 zone defense will fare against another trigger-happy team in this round.

 

Interesting Article: 2021 NCAA March Madness Best Bets And Tournament Picks

The key man for Syracuse is the coach’s son, Buddy Boeheim. The junior guard is on fire, averaging 26 points over the last 6 games and hitting more than five threes per game during that stretch. With 55 points in the first two games, he’s perhaps the most dominant player at the tournament so far.

Notes On The Houston Cougars

The Cougars were very close to getting knocked out in the Sweet 16 betting Second Round. However, they rallied late for a close win against the Scarlet Knights, completely stifling the Rutgers offense. This is not the first time the Houston defense got them the win. The Cougars are holding opponents to only 43% from the field this season. They’re capable of slowing down even the most potent defenses. Houston is particularly good against isolation plays which is exactly where the Syracuse offense thrives. The Rutgers game provided Coach Sampson more headache on the offensive end. 63 points equal the team’s lowest output this campaign. Furthermore, they’re a pick and roll-heavy offense, running some type of this play on 31% of offensive possessions. Scoring from pick and roll on Syracuse’s 2-3 zone will be almost impossible, so the Cougars will have to find the points elsewhere.

Houston’s leading scorer Quentin Grimes is having a fantastic tournament so far. The junior guard has 40 points already and shoots 9-17 from the deep. A reason for worry is a dip form for Marcus Sasser who hit only 1 shot on 9 attempts against Rutgers.

Syracuse Orange vs Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Betting Pick: UNDER 140.5

Both teams are currently thriving on the Sweet 16 betting defensive end. The Cougars prefer to play long and deliberate possessions while the Orange likes to run a bit more. However, Houston’s ability on the offensive boards should prevent Syracuse’s transition game in check.

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