NCAAB Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Saturday 3/23/19

LSU was just too big/athletic for Yale Thursday, hanging on for 79-74 win after leading by 16 at the half; four Tigers played 30:00+ in this game. Tigers are experience team #324 whose coach is suspended for NCAA issues- they do force turnovers 20.4% of time, and have a very good PG. Maryland went 13-7 in Big 14; they split last eight games. Terrapins are #350 experience team whose defensive eFG% is #25 in country, but they don’t force many turnovers, only 14.1 per game, 2nd-fewest in country. Turgeon is 9-8 in NCAA games, 2-4 in 2nd round games. Since 2010, when #3-6 seeds play in second round, teams are both 6-6 vs spread.

Wofford won its last 21 games; their last loss was Dec 21 at Miss State. Terriers made 13-28 on arc in their win over Seton Hall- they played four starters 32:00+. Wofford is experience team #135 (#2 in MC) that shoots 41.7% on arc, #2 in country. Wofford is 10-4 outside SoCon; they won at South Carolina of SEC- they lost by 11 at Oklahoma, 25 at Kansas, 11 at home to North Carolina. Kentucky jogged in their first round game; Washington isn’t expected to play in this game either. Calipari won seven of last eight second round games, covering only one of last four. Last three years, underdogs are 5-2 vs spread when #2-7 seeds meet in the second round.

Florida is experience team #270 that plays pace #343; they were up 18 on Nevada Thursday, hung on to win by 9. Florida played three starters 34:00+ vs Nevada; two of them are freshmen. Gators are 9-5 outside SEC; they force turnovers 22.6% of time (#16). Michigan cruised in its first round game; they’re 12-0 outside Big 14, albeit vs NC schedule #305. Wolverines are #242 experience team whose eFG% defense is #7 in country. Since 2011, #10-seeds who win their first round game are 9-1 vs spread in 2nd round. Michigan also plays a slow pace (#319).

Last five years, when a #12-seed pulls a first round upset, they were only 1-5 vs spread in second round. Murray State crushed Marquette Thursday, winning by 19; Racers have an NBA player in Morant, but Florida State is a hell of a lot deeper/more athletic than Marquette. Seminoles are 13-1 outside ACC, beating SE Missouri of OVC by 17- their subs play minutes #32. FSU won 15 of its last 17 games; they had tough time with Vermont Thursday, leading by only one with 10:00 left. Senior F Cofer missed this game (foot), then found out after game his father passed away (check status). Only two Seminoles played 30:00+ Thursday.

Last four years, #1-seeds are 6-9 vs spread in their 2nd round game. Gonzaga won by 38 Thursday; they’re experience team #104 that is 31-3 this year, 14-2 outside the feeble WCC. Zags won their last four second round games (3-1 vs spread); their bench plays minutes #310; could that be a factor in SLC’s altitude? Baylor made 16-34 on arc in its win over Syracuse that snapped Bears’ 4-game losing skid. Three Bears played 33:00+ in that game, which Syracuse’s PG missed. Baylor is experience team #252 whose bench plays #61 minutes- they’re #2 offensive rebounding team in country. Bears are 9-4 outside Big X.

Since 2011, #10-seeds who win their first round game are 9-1 vs spread in 2nd round. Michigan State beat Minnesota 79-55 (-14) at home Feb 9; Spartans won five of last six series games, with last three wins by 18+ points. MSU hasn’t been to a Sweet 16 since 2015; they’re 2-4 vs spread in last six second round games. State won six in row, 11 of last 12 games; they held last three foes to 60 or fewer points. Spartans are experience team #138 whose defensive eFG% is #8 in country. Minnesota won five of last seven games- they don’t take many 3’s or sub a lot; Gophers played three guys 38:00+ vs Louisville, but they won the game with surprising ease.

Villanova survived Saint Mary’s 61-57 Thursday; they played four starters 32:00+, used only one sub more than 3:00. Wildcats won two of last three national titles, but since 2010, they’re still only 2-4 in 2nd round games. Villanova plays pace #334; they get 42.7% of their points behind arc (#9). Purdue held off Old Dominion 61-48 Thursday; Cline was 1-11 on arc- he came in shooting 41.1% on arc. Edwarrds was 7-23 from floor playing whole 40:00. Since 2010, when #3-6 seeds play in second round, teams are both 6-6 vs spread. Painter is 4-4 in second round games, winning his last two.

Since 2013, when #4-5 seeds played in 2nd round, favorites were 9-3 vs spread in those games, and #4-seed wasn’t always favored. Auburn won its last nine games, surviving low basketball IQ in its 78-77 win Thursday; Tigers played 10 guys 10:00+ in that game, with no one playing more than 31:00. Auburn forces turnovers 25.3% of time, #1 in country; they’re experience team #36 that is 12-2 outside the SEC. Kansas won nine of its last 12 games; they pounded Northeastern Thursday- nine Jayhawks played 11:00+. Kansas is experience team #331 that that plays pace #65. Bill Self won nine of his last 12 second round games, going 6-6 vs spread.

Saturday’s other tournament games
Arkansas beat Indiana 73-72 at home Nov 18, with big man Gafford scoring 27 for the Hogs; now Gafford has quit so he can get ready for the NBA Draft. Razorbacks won four of last five games; seven of the nine guys they used in Tuesday’s win at Providence are frosh/sophs. Indiana won five of its last six games, winning last four at home. Hoosiers were down 6 at the half to St Francis in last game Tuesday, but won by 17, scoring 55 points in 2nd half.

Lipscomb won five of its last six games, pulling slight upset at Davidson Tuesday; Bisons won eight of their last nine road games- they lost A-Sun title game at home. Lipscomb is experience team #51 that starts two juniors, three seniors. NC-Greensboro won seven of its last eight games; they force turnovers 22.3% of time (#19). Spartans start two juniors, two seniors, making 12-27 on arc in their win over Campbell Tuesday.

FIU hasn’t played in ten days; they’re 5-4 outside Conference USA, with four non-D-I wins. FIU is experience team #75 that plays fastest paced games in whole country- they force turnovers 23.5% of time (#7), but they can’t shoot (29.8% on arc, 64.7% on line). Texas State plays tempo #304; they lost three of last four games, they’re 2-0 vs C-USA teams this year, beating Rice and UTSA. Bobcats are 24-9, but have #206 eFG%.

Saturday - Session 1
By Kevin Rogers

East Region (Jacksonville, FL)
No. 6 Maryland vs. No. 3 LSU (CBS, 12:10 PM EST)

Opening Odds: LSU -2 ½, 145

Both LSU and Maryland escaped their first round matchups by a combined seven points against mid-major competition. The Tigers (27-6 SU, 19-13-1 ATS) finished atop the SEC standings at 16-2 with the only two losses coming to Arkansas by one point and an overtime setback to Florida. Unfortunately for LSU, the Tigers were one and done in the SEC tournament as they fell to the Gators for the second time this season, 76-73.

LSU still received a three-seed and didn’t have to travel far by going to Jacksonville to face Ivy League champion Yale. The Tigers jumped out to a 45-29 halftime lead and owned an 18-point advantage with 18:00 remaining in regulation. Yale stormed all the way back to cut the deficit to three in the final seconds before LSU drilled a pair of free throws to win, 79-74. The Tigers failed to cash as 6 ½-point favorites, as Skylar Mays led LSU with 19 points.

Maryland (23-10 SU, 16-16-1 ATS) stumbled to the finish in Big 10 play by splitting its final six games following a 10-4 start in the league. The Terrapins lasted only one game in the Big 10 tournament, but managed an invite to the Big Dance for the fourth time in five years. Maryland needed to rally from a 12-point first half deficit on Thursday to edge a tough Belmont squad, 79-77. The Terps erased a 40-34 halftime hole by scoring the first 14 points of the second half, but couldn’t grab the cover as 3 ½-point favorites.

Five Big 10 teams are taking the court on Saturday, including Maryland. Four clubs from the SEC were victorious on Thursday, as the Big 10 is guaranteed to have at least one team reach the Sweet 16 with Michigan State facing Minnesota on Saturday. The winner of the Spartans/Gophers matchup will face whoever escapes this early contest with a victory, meaning Michigan State or Maryland could potentially square off with a second straight conference foe assuming Maryland advances.

The Terps are flipped to an underdog here after being favored against Belmont as Maryland owns a 6-4 ATS mark when receiving points this season. LSU compiled a solid 14-4 ATS record since the start of January, but the Tigers are 0-2 ATS the last two games. The Tigers are seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance since reaching the Final Four in 2006.

Midwest Region (Jacksonville, FL)
No. 7 Wofford vs. No. 2 Kentucky (CBS, 2:40 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Kentucky -5 ½, 138 ½

The second SEC team to take the court in the round of 32 also did not win the conference tournament, but has huge aspirations for Minneapolis. Kentucky (28-6 SU, 18-16 ATS) basically showed up in its first round matchup with Southland conference champion Abilene Christian and exited with a 79-44 rout to easily cash as 20-point favorites.

The Wildcats played without sophomore star P.J. Washington (14.8 ppg), who sat out with a foot injury and is not expected to suit up on Saturday. Kentucky led by 26 at halftime and didn’t let off the gas pedal as the Wildcats shot 54% from the floor, while Keldon Johnson posted 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The Wildcats have never been bounced in the first round since John Calipari took over as head coach in 2009, while not escaping the opening weekend only once as they lost to Indiana in the 2016 second round.

Kentucky will have its hands full with Wofford (30-4 SU, 20-11 ATS), who pulled away late from Seton Hall on Thursday, 84-68. The Terriers have won 21 straight games and were last defeated on December 19 against another SEC squad – Mississippi State. In the first round matchup against the Pirates, Wofford grabbed a 40-30 halftime lead before Seton Hall tied the game at 57-57 with 9:26 remaining. The Terriers led 67-66 with 4:20 to go, but Wofford opened things up with a 17-0 run to grab their first ever NCAA tournament victory.

Senior guard Fletcher Magee knocked down seven three-pointers for Wofford and scored 24 points as the Terriers not only cashed as three-point favorites, but improved to 12-1 ATS the last 13 games. The lone ATS defeat during this stretch came as a hefty 22 ½-point favorite in a 95-84 win over VMI last month. Wofford posted a 3-4 ATS record in the underdog role this season, including double-digit losses to North Carolina, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Mississippi State, while the biggest victory as a ‘dog came at South Carolina in a 20-point blowout in November.

The cover in Thursday’s game was only the second in the last seven opportunities for UK, who own a 5-3-2 ATS record in the past 10 NCAA tournament contests since 2016. The last team from the Southern Conference to reach the Sweet 16 was Davidson back in 2008 behind Stephen Curry, as the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight before falling to Kansas.

Saturday - Session 2
By Tony Mejia

West Region - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
#10 Florida vs. #2 Michigan - 5:15 PM EST - CBS

Opening Odds: Michigan -6.5, 123

-- Michigan (29-6 SU, 20-15 ATS) rebounded from its loss in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State by dominating Montana in the first round, rolling by the Big Sky champ 74-55, coming through with the cover as a 15-point favorite. The Wolverines haven't lost consecutive games all season and haven't lost to an opponent not named Michigan State since Feb. 12.

-- The Wolverines are looking for their third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance in what has been yet another fantastic season under John Beilein, who signed an extension in the offseason after emerging as a finalist for the Detroit Pistons head coaching vacancy eventually filled by Dwane Casey.

-- Florida (20-15 SU, 17-18 ATS) pulled off an upset over Nevada, eliminating the No. 7 seed and eliminating a Wolf Pack team that was among the most successful in program history. The Gators dominated early and then held on for dear life after having an 18-point lead trimmed to 63-61 with just over two minutes remaining. After entering the SEC Tournament with its inclusion in these NCAAs in doubt, Florida dropped Arkansas, upset LSU and then gave eventual champion Auburn a great game to seal an at-large bid.

-- Florida employs one of college basketball's slowest tempos, preferring to lock in defensively to utlize its collective size to stifle opponents. The Gators ranked in the bottom-10 in D-I in tempo entering the NCAAs according to tempo. Freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard has made significant strides throughout the season but faces a difficult challenge against counterpart Xavier Simpson, who has emerged as the heart of this Wolverines team throughout the season and ended up with 10 assists and seven rebounds to offset a slow shooting start. Simpson uncharacteristically committed four first-half turnovers but moved into No. 7 on Michigan's all-time assists list, passing Trey Burke.

-- Michigan ranks second in defensive efficiency per KenPom, surrendering an average of just 58.5 points per game, also second nationally, holding seven of its last nine opponents under 70 points. Michigan State was able to surpass that mark both times, so count on Mike White cramming in a lot of MSU-Michigan film between now and tip-off as he looks to take the Gators to their second Sweet 16 under his watch, the first since 2015.

-- The Wolverines are looking for their fifth Sweet 16 appearance in seven seasons under Beilein, which would set a Michigan record. He's currently tied with Steve Fisher with four Sweet 16s.

-- Michigan senior Charles Matthews missed time late in the season with an ankle injury but looked healthy in the Round of 64, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a great development for the Maize and Blue's chances. Freshman Iggy Brazdeikis put up 14 points and seven rebounds in his first NCAA Tournament game. He leads Michigan in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game.

-- The Wolverines reached the Sweet 16 last season thanks to a 3-pointer at the buzzer of their Round of 32 game by then-freshman Jordan Poole, so expect to see that highlight a few times today. He remains Michigan's x-factor. Florida's leading scorer, KeVaughn Allen (11.9 ppg) went scoreless in the opening half against Nevada, but x-factors Jalen Hudson and Kevarrius Hayes kept the Gators afloat with big starts they'll need to replicate to give their team a shot at pulling off this upset.

The 'under' has prevailed in four of the past five games involving Florida, extending a 12-3 run in Gators' games since the calendar hit February.

-- Michigan entered the NCAA Tournament with 20/1 odds to win it all, per the Westgate Superbook. Florida was slotted at 200-to-1.

West Region - Hartford, CT - XL Center
#12 Murray State vs. #4 Florida State - 6:10 PM EST - TNT

Opening Odds: FSU -4.5, 144.5

-- It's no surprise to see Murray State (29-5 SU, 20-10 ATS) destroyed Marquette in their tournament opener, rolling to an 83-64 rout behind 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists from point guard Ja Morant. The likely top-five NBA pick easily won his individual matchup with Big East Player of the Year Markus Howard to lead his team to a dominant performance in which they were running clock three-quarters of the way in.

-- Morant's triple-double was his third of the season and fourth of his career. The sophomore floor general has rightfully become a household name in college basketball circles this season and became the first to pull off a triple-double since Draymond Green pulled one out for Michigan State back in 2012. Freshman Tevin Brown, Morant's former AAU teammate, hit his first four three-pointers to help Morant set the tone. All five Murray starters scored at least nine points, so nerves weren't visible as the small Kentucky-based school imposed their will on the Golden Eagles.

-- Florida State (28-7 SU, 16-19 ATS) defeated a very solid Vermont squad, overcoming the Catamounts' fantastic 3-point shooting with their game-changing athleticism and size that ultimately wore down the America East power. The Noles rebounded from an ACC Tournament championship game loss to Duke.

-- Mfiondu Kabengele showed everyone who hadn't seen him why he's an intriguing NBA prospect and how he came to emerge as the ACC Sixth Man of the Year. Kabengele led the Seminoles in scoring (12.9 ppg) and finished with 21 points and 10 boards in making sure the opener against Vermont didn't get as interesting as it probably should have. Dikembe Mutombo's nephew has a great chance to emerge as a lottery pick if he leaves early and makes this matchup one all scouts will be glued to.

-- The 'Noles did receive awful news after their win over Vermont since senior forward Phil Cofer found out his father had passed away. He's decided to stay put with the team through this game, so the Noles will have to channel their emotions productively to overcome this obstacle.

-- Beyond Kabengele, FSU also boasts 7-foot-4 center Christ Koumadje in addition to Cofer and a collection of large, athletic wings, making them the biggest team Murray State will have run into. The Racers lost to Auburn and Alabama in non-conference play in their only meetings with high-majors prior to Thursday's victory over Marquette. The Racers have won 12 consecutive games and are 1-2 in career meetings vs. the 'Noles, last playing them in 1998.

-- The Seminoles have won 15 of 17 games, losing only top top-seeds North Carolina and Duke. They're not great against the spread, covering in only three of their last nine.

-- Count on their effectiveness shooting the 3-ball to tell the story if the Racers are to pull off the upset since Morant's ability to get to the rim will be mititgated some by the size of Koumadje and Kabengele. Murray State shot 9-for-18 from beyond the arc in the Round of 32. Vermont finished 16-for-32 against the Noles, who haven't defended the 3-ball well despite their length on the perimeter. Morant, Brown and senior Leroy Buchanan will have to be productive from 3-point range to give themselves a chance.

-- The Seminoles were 40/1 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, while the Racers were a popular longshot at 300/1.

-- The 'under' is on a 6-3 run in FSU games.

West Region - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena
#9 Baylor vs. #1 Gonzaga - 7:10 PM EST - TBS

Opening Odds: Gonzaga -13.5, 148.5

-- Following an embarrassing loss to rival Saint Mary's in the West Coast final in which it scored a season-low 47 points, Gonzaga (31-3 SU, 22-12 ATS) rebounded from one of the most puzzling games we've seen this March by destroying Fairleigh Dickinson 87-49. The loss to the Gaels didn't cost the West's biggest juggernaut their No. 1 seed and they managed to play like they were deserving in a dominant effort against the Northeast Conference champs.

-- Baylor (20-13 SU, 17-14-2 ATS) took down Syracuse, pulling away in a tight game and taking advantage of the Orange suspending key senior wing Frank Howard, whose presence was missed as Syracuse struggled to find a third scorer to pair with Oshae Brissett and Tyus Battle. That should take nothing away from the Bears, who rode 16 3-pointers to the mild upset.

-- If Baylor is to challenge Gonzaga, it's going to require another 16 3-pointers, at least, to overcome a lack of depth. Makai Mason, who had a great run with Yale a few years ago and led the Bears in scoring (14.9 ppg) as a graduate transfer, overcame foot pain that has plagued him the past month-plus to knock down four 3-pointers, finishing with 22 points while racking up four assists and three steals to fuel the upset. Gonzaga will know where he is at all times.

-- The Bears lost top forward Tristan Clark back in January to a knee injury and have been working short-handed since, a credit to Scott Drew in what has been one of the best coaching jobs of his career. Brother Bryce was let go as head coach by Vanderbilt on Thursday. Scott Drew has dealt with a lot of criticism in Waco over his game management but would lead Baylor to its fifth Sweet 16 appearance over the past decade with an upset here.

-- Gonzaga has often been stifling on defense due to its depth and athleticism, but its calling card is the nation's most efficient, prolific offense, which is averaging a national-best 88.8 points per game. Rui Hachimura, a likely lottery pick, leads four double-digit scorers, averaging 20.1 points.

-- The Bulldogs led the nation in point differential, defeating teams by an average of 24.2 points. Gonzaga went 6-2 against high-majors, losing only to Tennessee and North Carolina while defeating the likes of Duke, Arizona and Creighton.

-- Mark Few has won roughly five of every six games he's coached in since taking over the program from Dan Monson back in 1999 and has gotten out of the first weekend of NCAA Tournament play in eight straight years. The Bulldogs played for the national championship in 2017, losing to North Carolina. The 'Zags haven't lost in the second round since 2010.
-- Gonzaga's 38-point win over the Knights was their largest in terms of margin of victory at the NCAAs in school history. The Bulldogs beat Baylor in the last meeting between the schools back in 2012, winning 94-87.

-- Gonzaga came in at 9/2 to win the NCAA Tournament per Westgate when the tournament began, which came in just behind Duke (9/4) as far as favorites go. Baylor was 1,000-to-1.

-- The 'over' is on a 5-2 run in Baylor games but is just 1-3 in Gonzaga's last four games.

Saturday - Session 3
By Joe Williams

East Region (Des Moines, IA)
No. 10 Minnesota vs. No. 2 Michigan State (CBS, 8:00 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Michigan State -10, 142

-- Michigan State (29-6 straight up, 24-11 against the spread) opened the tournament with a rather slugging 76-65 victory against Bradley, failing to cover the 17 1/2-point spread. Now they'll face a familiar foe from their own conference. This will be the first NCAA Tournament meeting between two Big Ten clubs since Sparty and Wisconsin did battle in the 2000 Final Four.

-- The Spartans hosted the Gophers on Feb. 9 at Breslin Center, easily covering a 13 1/2-point number while the 'under' (142) connected. In that game, Nick Ward led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, hitting nine of his 14 field-goal attempts. Matt McQuaid was a solid 6-for-9 from the field, ending up with 18 points and eight assists, while hitting four triples. Cassius Winston also chipped in with 11 points and nine assists and a 3-pointer of his own, and the Spartans won going away after hitting 31-of-60 (51.7 percent ) from the field versus 18-of-49 (36.7 percent) from the floor.

-- Michigan State ranked 41st with 78.7 points per game (PPG) this season, while hitting 48.4 percent from the field to check in 19th in the nation. They were also outstanding from behind the arc, hitting 38.1 percent, while managing a 75.8 percent mark from the free-throw line.

-- Defensively, the Spartans lock it down, allowing just 65.5 PPG to rank 37th in the country, while holding opponents to a 37.9 percent mark from the field to check in third overall. Rebounding differential was huge for Michigan State, too. They outrebounded teams by nearly 12 boards per game this season. They outrebounded Minnesota 37-29 in the first meeting, including 10 on the offensive end.

-- Michigan State has managed to cover four in a row after an ATS loss, although they're 0-4 ATS in their past four NCAA Tournament games. They are 20-6 ATS in the past 26 against winning teams, and 4-1 ATS in the past five games against conference foes, too.

-- For the Spartans, the under has cashed in 13 of the past 19 against conference foes, while going 4-0 in the past four against teams with a winning overall record. However, the 'over' has connected in seven of their past eight NCAA Tournament battles.

-- In this series against Minnesota the favorite has cashed in four straight, with Michigan State 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The 'under' is also 20-7 in the past 27 meetings in this series, including back on Feb. 9.

-- The Spartans have enjoyed quite a bit of success in the Round of 32 under Tom Izzo, going 13-3 over the past 16 in the second round dating back to 1998.

-- Minnesota (22-13 SU, 18-17 ATS) picked an 86-76 upset win over Louisville from the ACC in Round 1, winning as a five-point underdog as the 'over' (137.5) came through.

-- The key to Minnesota's success in the opening round was their outstanding scoring balance. Five players were in double figures, led by Gabe Kalscheur with 24 points and eight rebounds. Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy each contributed 18 points and six rebounds apiece, while Dupree McBrayer and Daniel Oturu each ended the day with 13 points. The Gophers ended up hitting 29-of-58 (50.0 percent) from the field while staying even with Louisville 32-32 in the rebounds category. They'll need that kind of balance and shooting if they hope to knock off their conference rivals.

-- Minnesota struggled on offense this season, ranking 216th in the nation with just 71.2 PPG, while hitting 43.9 percent from the field and just 32.5 percent from behind the arc. They're also a dismal free-throw shooting side, ranking 279th in the countrywith just a 67.9 percent mark.

-- The Gophers enter the game with a +5.7 rebound margin, and they held opponents to 69.4 PPG to check in a mediocre 124th in the nation.

-- The Golden Gophers have managed a 4-1 ATS mark over the past five neutral-site battles, while cashing in five of the past seven overall. However, they're just 7-17 ATS in the past 24 following a cover, and 2-5 ATS in their past seven NCAA Tournament battles despite their win and cover vs. Louisville.

-- The 'over' has cashed in four straight NCAA Tournament games for the Gophers, although the under is 9-4 in the past 13 against conference opponents. The under is also 21-7 in the past 28 games against teams with a winning overall mark.

South Region (Hartford, CT)
No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 3 Purdue (TNT, 9:00 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Purdue -3½, 137

-- The defending national champions from Villanova (26-9 SU, 21-14 ATS) kicked off their title defense with a gritty 61-57 win against St. Mary's (Calif.) in Round 1 as the 'under' (127) connected.

-- The Wildcats saw Phil Booth go for 20 points, six rebounds and two steals with just two turnovers in the first game, hitting 7-for-13 from the field. Eric Paschall stepped up with 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of 3-pointers, while Jermaine Samuels contributed with 12 points and seven rebounds while also added a pair of triples. 'Nova ended up 8-for-20 from the perimeter, while shooting just 55.6 percent from the charity stripe.

-- These teams last met on Nov. 14, 2016 when the Wildcats came away with a 79-76 victory.

-- Villanova has posted an impressive 11-2 ATS mark in their past 13 battles against Big Ten teams, and they're 14-3 ATS in the past 17 NCAA Tournament games, including Thursday's victory. They have also covered 39 of their past 54 non-conference tilts, and 37 of the previous 55 on a neutral court.

-- The 'over has connected in four of the past five overall, but the 'under' is 12-3-1 in their past 16 non-conference battles and seven of the past 10 on a neutral-site court.

-- Purdue (24-9 SU, 18-14 ATS) narrowly earned a cover at most shops with a 61-48 win against Old Dominion in the first round.

-- The Boilermakers struggled at the offensive end against ODU, hitting just 20-of-53 (37.7 percent) from the field, and they were just 9-of-30 (30.0 percent) from behind the three-point line. That includes an utterly brutal shooting night from Ryan Cline who ended up 2-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-11 from behind the arc. He finished with five points, seven rebounds and four assists with only one turnover. Matt Haarms picked up some of the slack with 13 points, four boards and a 5-for-6 shooting night while also swatting two shots. As per usual it was the Carsen Edwards show, as he posted a game-high 26 points while hitting four triples. He also added seven rebounds, four assists and two steal, and he is someone 'Nova will need to track early and often.

-- The Boilers are 39-19 ATS across their past 58 games outside of the conference, but they're just 2-7 ATS in the past nine games against Big East foes. Purdue is also 2-5 ATS in the past seven games against winning teams while going just 1-4 ATS in the past five after a cover in their previous outing.

-- The over has hit in seven of Purdue's past nine NCAA Tournament battles while hitting in six of their past eight against Big East teams. The over is also 38-17-1 in the past 56 neutral-site battles for the Boilermakers.

Midwest Region (Salt Lake City, UT)
No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 4 Kansas (TBS, 9:45 PM EST)

Opening Odds: Auburn -2, 147½

-- Auburn (27-9 SU, 18-16 ATS) tried their damnedest to blow the game to New Mexico State in the opening round, but the Aggies wouldn't accept the invitation to the second round. Auburn held on for a strange 78-77 win in a game no one seemed to be able to finish.

-- The Tigers had four players in double digits on Thursday, including 17 from Jared Harper. He was 6-for-11 from the field, and 4-for-8 from behind the three-point line, while also contributing four assists before fouling out in 31 minutes. J'Von McCormick stepped up off the bench, dumping in 16 points while making his only triple and hitting all three of his free-throw attempts. That was a rarity, as the Tigers were a dismal 14-for-21 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

-- The Tigers have still managed a 5-2 ATS mark across the past seven despite a non-cover in the first round. Auburn has managed a 1-6 ATS mark across their past seven non-conference games, but they're 4-1 ATS in the past five against Big 12 foes.

-- Kansas (26-9 SU, 17-18 ATS) had a trying regular season, not sitting atop the Big 12 perch like we've been used to seeing. However, they certainly looked like a perennial contender in their dismantling of Northeastern in Round 1, winning 87-53 to easily cover a seven-point number as the 'under' (142.5) connected by a whisker.

-- The Jayhawks shot 55.7 percent in the opening round, hitting 34 of their 61 attempts from the field. They also ended up 8-of-22 from behind the three-point line and they were a very tidy 11-of-12 from the free-throw stripe. Dedric Lawson led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds against the undersized Huskies, while Devon Dotson chipped in with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals over 30 minutes. Ochai Agbaji and K.J. Lawson were each able to contribute 13 points, too.

-- The Jayhawks have posted a 4-1 ATS mark in the past five games overall, and they're 6-2 ATS in the past eight neutral-site battles. However, they are 5-11 ATS in the past 16 following a straight-up win, and they're 0-4 ATS in their past four games following a victory by 20 or more points.

-- The 'over' has been a common theme for the Jayhawks lately, hitting in four of the past five NCAA Tournament games. The over is also 12-5-1 in the past 18 non-conference battles, while going 7-2 in the past nine against teams with a winning percentage over .600 and 10 of the past 14 games overall.

-- This is the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the hardwood.

Today's biggest bets and line moves: Bettors back Murray State odds vs. Florida State

Murray State has won 12 in a row SU entering Saturday's NCAA Tournament tilt vs. Florida State. The Seminoles went from -4.5 to -5.5, but Racers money has since piled in, taking the line back to 4.5.

It’s on to the Round of 32 as March Madness rolls into the weekend, with eight games on the Saturday slate. Covers checks in on the action and odds movement for a few matchups, with insights from Scott Shelton, sportsbook supervisor at The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.
No. 12 Murray State Racers vs. No. 4 Florida State Seminoles – Open: -4.5; Move: -5; Move: -5.5; Move: -5; Move: -4.5

The 12 vs. 5 upset happened three times in the first round, and Murray State was one of those victors. The Racers (28-4 SU, 20-10 ATS) thumped Marquette 83-74 as 3-point West Region underdogs Thursday, winning their 12th in a row SU and moving to 8-2 ATS in their last 10 outings.

Florida State is on a 13-1 SU roll (9-5 ATS) entering this 6:10 p.m. ET clash. The Seminoles (28-7 SU, 17-17-1 ATS) held off No. 13 seed Vermont 76-69 as 8.5-point favorites.

“That game was busy from the time we first hung it,” Shelton said of action at The Mirage and other MGM Resorts sportsbooks. “Sharps laid 4.5 with Florida State, we went to 5.5, and sharps took it back. Now, it’s all Murray State. Money is about 8/1 and ticket count is just over 2/1 on Murray State. And they’re playing Murray State moneyline, as well. That’s about 4/1 money on the Racers.”

No. 5 Auburn Tigers vs. No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks – Open: +1.5; Move: +2

Kansas bounced back nicely from a blowout loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 title game. The Jayhawks (26-9 SU, 17-18 ATS) flattened Northeastern 87-53 laying 7 points in their Midwest Region opener.

Auburn won four games in four days to claim the Southeastern Conference tournament title, then just barely kept rolling in the Round of 64. The Tigers (27-9 SU, 18-16-1 ATS) got all they could handle from No. 12 seed New Mexico State, snaring a 78-77 victory as 5.5-point faves Thursday.

Although the line ticked up a half-point to Auburn -2, Kansas is drawing more cash.

“They’re playing the ‘dog in that game, too,” Shelton said of pointspread play in the last game of the day, a 9:40 p.m. ET tipoff. “Just over 2/1 money in favor of Kansas, and the ticket count is roughly 2/1 on Kansas, too. And on the moneyline, there’s three times as much money on Kansas.”

No. 6 Maryland Terrapins vs. No. 3 Louisiana State Tigers – Open: -2.5; Move: -2; Move: -2.5

Louisiana State made it to Saturday’s first tip, a 12:10 p.m. ET start in the East Region, by dodging what became a trendy upset pick in the first round. The Tigers (27-6 SU, 20-12-1 ATS) survived a dogfight with Yale in a 79-74 victory laying 5.5 points Thursday.

Likewise, Maryland got all it could handle from another team considered a sexy pick in the tournament. The Terrapins (23-10 SU, 16-16-1 ATS) outlasted No. 11 seed Belmont 79-77 giving 3.5 points Thursday.

“It’s pretty lopsided. They’re playing LSU right now,” Shelton said. “Money is 4/1 and ticket count is over 4/1 on LSU.”

No. 6 Villanova Wildcats vs. No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers – Open: -3.5; Move: -4; Move: -3.5

Defending national champion Villanova isn’t quite that strong this year, but has won four in a row and six of seven. The Wildcats (26-9 SU, 21-14 ATS) got by No. 11 seed St. Mary’s 61-57 Thursday, narrowly cashing as 3.5-point favorites.

Purdue saw a 6-1 run halted in the Big Ten quarterfinals, but got back on track in the NCAA Tourney. The Boilermakers (24-9 SU, 18-14-1 ATS) beat No. 14 seed Old Dominion 61-48 and, like Villanova, barely covered the number as 12.5-point faves.

“They’re playing Villanova,” Shelton said of bettors' preference in an 8:40 p.m. ET South Region contest. “The ticket count is really close, but the money is pretty lopsided, 3/1 on Villanova.”

No. 9 Baylor Bears vs. No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs – Open: -12.5; Move: -13; Move: -13.5

Gonzaga stubbed its toe against St. Mary’s in the West Coast Conference final, but had no issues regaining its footing for the Big Dance. The Bulldogs (31-3 SU, 22-12 ATS) did what No. 1 seeds should do in the first round, boatracing Fairleigh Dickinson 87-49 as massive 28.5-point favorites.

Baylor entered the NCAA Tournament on a four-game losing streak and was 0-5-1 ATS in its previous six games, but also found its form Thursday. The Bears (20-13 SU, 16-15-2 ATS) beat Syracuse 78-69 as 2.5-point pups to reach this 7:10 p.m. ET meeting in the West Region.

“They’re laying it with the Zags,” Shelton said of the 1-point uptick in the spread. “The public is all over Gonzaga.”
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Saturday's odds and best bets for South Region Round 2
Brandon DuBreuil

The South Region has just one Round of 32 game on Saturday as the sixth-seeded Villanova Wildcats take on the third-seeded Purdue Boilermakers. The back-to-back national champs have been inconsistent this season — will their 13-game winning streak at the tournament come to an end? We break down the odds and total while giving predictions and best bets.

(6) Villanova Wildcats vs (3) Purdue Boilermakers

Odds: Purdue -4, 137
Start time: 5:15 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Villanova just gets it done in the tournament. After an up-and-down season, the Wildcats grinded through a slow-paced game with Saint Mary’s for a 61-57 win. It was the 13th consecutive win for Nova at the NCAA Tournament and its 25th consecutive win on a neutral court.

It was the three ball that was the difference on Thursday as the Wildcats hit on 8-of-20 attempts despite facing a Gaels squad that ranked 55th in the nation in defending the three. The eight 3-pointers fell below its average of 10.5 as Villanova gets 42.7 percent of its points from the long ball, the ninth-highest rate in the nation.

Purdue got here by jumping out to a big early lead and then cruising to a 61-48 win over Old Dominion where star guard Carsen Edwards scored 26 points, though he still shot just 30.4 percent from the field and hasn’t cracked the 33.3 percent shooting mark in his last four as he plays through a sore back.

Purdue doesn’t apply the same pressure as Saint Mary’s on the 3-point line, ranked 154th in defending the three. What Purdue can do, however, is hit the three as it averages 9.7 per game, the most in the Big Ten, and it hit another nine on Thursday against the Monarchs.

Neither team plays overly fast here but both are remarkably efficient, with Purdue ranked fifth and Nova 16th in KenPom’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency metric. Expect the points to come early and often, with the majority coming via the three ball, and take the Over 137.

Looking at the sides, here we have a situation to get the back-to-back national champs at plus points. The Wildcats have been inconsistent this season and at times have looked terrible but they are still led by two seniors — Phil Booth and Eric Paschall — who have two national titles to their names. Nova has also been remarkable against the number in the tournament as it is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 March Madness games. Take the plus points and back the Wildcats.
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Saturday's odds and best bets for East Region Round 2
Jason Logan

March Madness rolls on in the East Region with two Round of 32 tilts on the NCAA Tournament betting board. Jason Logan breaks down the odds and action with his best bets and predictions for Minnesota vs. Michigan State, and LSU vs. Maryland.

No. 6 MARYLAND TERRAPINS VS NO. 3 LSU TIGERS

Odds: LSU -2.5 145 at FanDuel Sportsbook
Start Time: 12:10 p.m. ET, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

The Tigers leaned on their size and athleticism to hold off Yale in the Round of 64, out-rebounding the smaller Bulldogs 42-33. Now, LSU takes on a Maryland team that stands taller than them, ranked 47th in height and 16th in total rebounds (39.2 per game).

Facing taller foes isn’t anything new to Louisiana State, which took on eight SEC opponents (12 games) that towered over them. However, the Tigers mustered on average just 76.6 points per game in regulation in those dozen matchups – a dip from their 81.3 scoring average on the season.

Louisiana State looks to attack the rim and draw fouls, picking up almost 23 percent of its offense off of free throws. In those games against taller SEC opponents, they were extra aggressive, but they may not get those freebie points versus the Terps.

Maryland has done a good job keeping the whistles from blowing, getting called for an average of just 15.5 personal fouls per game and allowing opponents to collect just 17 percent of their points from free throws.

The Terrapins held their ground against aggressive Big Ten foes like Iowa and Minnesota, who also depend on getting to the line. Maryland won both meetings with the Gophers and knocked off Iowa, allowing an average of 64 points in those three games.

Louisiana State will need to find another way to put up points, and I’m going Under the Tigers’ team total of 73.5 Saturday.

NO. 10 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS NO. 2 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Odds: MSU -10, 142 at FanDuel Sportsbooks
Start Time: 7:45 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa

The Golden Gophers benefitted from a March miracle in their opening game versus Louisville Thursday. After averaging only 5.4 made 3-pointers all season (13th fewest in the country), Minnesota was money from beyond the arc, knocking down 11 triples on 41 percent shooting from outside.

I’m not buying it. The Gophers were 10 for 36 from distance in the three games prior to Thursday and face a pissed-off Michigan State team coming off a very uncomfortable win over Bradley in the Round of 64.

Michigan State defeated Minnesota 79-55 as a 13.5-point home favorite back on February 9, limiting the Gophers to 36 percent shooting from the floor (5 for 14 from 3-point land). The Spartans pulled away in the second half with 44 points in the final 20 minutes, which has been somewhat of a calling card for MSU.

Michigan State sprung for 42 second-half points Thursday and is averaging 40.6 points in the final 20 minutes over the last five games. With Minnesota coming back to earth and Izzo lighting a fire under this team, I’m going to ride those strong showings after the break with a play on MSU -4.5 second-half spread.
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Saturday's odds and best bets for Midwest Region Round 2
Andrew Caley

The Tigers were cruising until the final mintues against New Mexico State, they can't afford to stumble like that against a much stronger Kansas team.

The Midwest Region tips off its Round of 32 Saturday with a pair of intriguing matchups. Kentucky could be without its best player when they take on tournament darling Wofford, while Auburn takes on Kansas in a 4-5 matchup of Power 5 teams. We break down the odds and totals for all three games while giving predictions and best bets.

(7) WOFFORD TERRIERS vs (2) KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Odds:
Start Time: 2:40 p.m. ET, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

Second-seeded Kentucky will likely be without its leading scorer and rebounder for a second straight game when it meets No. 7 seed Wofford Saturday.

PJ Washington missed Thursday's 79-44 thrashing of 15th-seeded Abilene Christian because of a sprained foot, but his absence could be felt against the Terriers.

Keldon Johnson stepped up in Washington’s absence with 25 points and six boards. But he is nowhere near the defender Washington is and the Wildcats perimeter defense, which ranks 203rd in opponent 3-point percentage, could struggle against the sharp-shooting Terriers.

ACU ranked 195th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency compared to ninth for the Terriers. That number is fueled by Wofford’s prolific 3-point shooting. They hit nearly 42 percent of their shots from behind the arc, led by senior Fletcher Magee, who broke the NCAA record for most 3-pointers made in a career in Wofford’s win over Seton Hall.

Kentucky is the deeper and more athletic team, and in the end, it may be too much for Wofford to overcome. But the 'Cats are prone to turnovers sometimes and that could lead to more shooting opportunites for Wofford. Plus, the Terriers seems to have some of that tournament magic surrounding it and as dangerous as they are from deep, they should be able to keep this close until the final minutes. Take the points with the Terriers.

(5) AUBURN TIGERS vs (4) KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Odds: KU +2, 147.5
Start Time: 9:40 p.m. ET, Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

Auburn and Kansas come into their Second Round matchup having very different opening games. The Tigers escaped with a hard-fought 78-77 victory over New Mexico State after nearly blowing a seven-point lead in the final minute, while Kansas got to put in neutral in the second half of its 87-53 steamrolling of Northeastern.

The Tigers played pretty poorly down the stretch versus the Aggies, but there were also some calls that didn’t go their way. Either way this game shouldn’t have been this close, and the Tigers will want to come out strong to make amends.

Auburn will once again rely on its 3-point shooting to carry it in this one. The Tigers take and make a lot of 3’s, hitting nearly 38 percent of their attempts and are led by their guard duo of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper score 15.7 and 15.2 points respectively hitting nearly 40 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. They will face an athletic Jayhawks team, that while athletic, has some problems defending the perimeter, ranking 110th in the country in opponent 3-point percentage.

Kansas on the other hand, will attempt to attack Auburn on the interior, behind the likes of Dedric Lawson (19.3 ppg). The Jayhawks scored 50 points in the paint for the second straight game in their win over Northeastern and the Tigers ranked 214th in opponents 2-point field goal percentage.

Kansas and Auburn are equipped to score on one another and combine to score an average of just over 155 points per game. Take the Over in this matchup.

But the Tigers have another small edge here. They really hustle. That has resulted in them ranking in the top 15 in steals and block, and Kansas can get sloppy with the ball at times. The Jayhawks ranked 296th in turnovers this season. Lay the points with the Tigers to cover as small faves. Parlay at your own risk.
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Saturday's odds and best bets for West Region Round 2
Brandon DuBreuil

The West Region tips off its Round of 32 games on Saturday which means we get to see Ja Morant light up a basketball court again after he put up the performance of the tournament so far on Thursday. We break down the odds and totals for all three games while giving predictions and best bets.

(10) Florida Gators vs (2) Michigan Wolverines

Odds: Michigan -7, 120.5
Start time: 5:15 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

If you’re looking for a pretty basketball game look elsewhere as the defensive-minded Wolverines and Gators go head to head with a total of 120.5. Michigan got to Round 2 by dominating Montana in the first round (for the second straight year) while Florida played a solid first half and then hung on for dear life in edging Nevada.

I loved Florida to win on Thursday but that was mostly due to Nevada being overrated. And let’s be honest, Nevada probably should have won that game but the Wolf Pack made mistake after mistake to let Florida off the hook. The Gators looked shell shocked for a good portion of the second half as Nevada applied full-court pressure and if a couple of breaks had went the Wolf Pack's way, they'd be the ones taking on Michigan today.

They're not, however, and that gives us the chance to fade the Gators. The Wolverines should win this game rather easily and lately, when they win, they cover, as Michigan is 11-0 ATS in its last 11 wins. Back the maize and blue -7.

(12) Murray State Racers vs (4) Florida State Seminoles

Odds: Florida State -5, 143.5
Start time: 6:10 p.m. ET, XL Center, Hartford

If you didn’t know Ja Morant’s name before Thursday, you certainly do now after the sophomore guard recorded the NCAA Tournament’s first triple-double since Draymond Green posted one in 2012. He was absolutely ridiculous against Marquette, scoring or assisting on 53 points as the Racers dropped 83 on the Golden Eagles. Murray State has won 12 games in a row, going 8-4 ATS with the total going 6-6 over that span.

Florida State got a first-half scare against Vermont (with the Catamounts getting us a first-half winner) but the game went exactly as I had predicted with the Seminoles using their depth to pull away in the second.

Here’s what stood out to me from the Seminoles win: They allowed Vermont to hit 16 threes on 50 percent shooting from downtown. Florida State hasn’t been terrible at defending the three this season, but they haven’t been great either, allowing opponents to hit at 33.3 percent (109th in the nation).

Murray State was 9 of 18 from downtown against Marquette and is shooting 34.8 percent on the season. The Racers will likely be dialing it up from three against Florida State after the towering Seminoles allowed just seven field goals from inside the arc against Vermont.

Another factor I love is that Murray State allows opponents to shoot 48 percent on two-point field goals and I expect the Seminoles to try and use their size inside to exploit the smaller Racers. Bank on lots of points in this one and take the Over 143.5.

(9) Baylor Bears vs (1) Gonzaga Bulldogs

Odds: Gonzaga -12.5, 148
Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET, Vivint Smart Home Area, Salt Lake City

Coming into the tournament, Baylor had lost four straight and were averaging just 54 points per game. Then the Bears went out and lit up Syracuse’s 2/3 zone defense for 78 points behind 16-of-34 shooting from the 3-point line.

It was a nice performance, but sorry Bears fans, it comes to an end on Saturday against a Gonzaga team that is very good at defending the three, allowing opponents to shoot at just 30.8 percent from downtown (25th-best in the nation).

The Zags came out with something to prove in the first round after losing in the WCC title game and they took it out on hapless Fairleigh Dickinson, dropping 53 in the first half en route to an 87-49 win.

There are two more reasons why I like the Bulldogs to win easily. Makai Mason, Baylor’s best player, played well against Cuse but appeared to be in discomfort all evening. He’s been bothered by a toe injury and the quick turnaround here isn’t going to help him.

Finally, the Bears just aren’t a good ATS team as they are 2-8-2 in their last 12 games and 0-7-1 ATS in their last eight losses. I’m double dipping on the Zags here and backing them at -7 for the first half and -12.5 for the game.
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NCAAB
Long Sheet

Saturday, March 23

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VILLANOVA (26 - 9) vs. PURDUE (24 - 9) - 3/23/2019, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VILLANOVA is 49-26 ATS (+20.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 49-26 ATS (+20.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 18-4 ATS (+13.6 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 24-9 ATS (+14.1 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 18-4 ATS (+13.6 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 25-8 ATS (+16.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 119-85 ATS (+25.5 Units) after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
VILLANOVA is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in a NCAA tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 45-21 ATS (+21.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 29-14 ATS (+13.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.

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

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MURRAY ST (28 - 4) vs. FLORIDA ST (28 - 7) - 3/23/2019, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MURRAY ST is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all games this season.
MURRAY ST is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all lined games this season.
MURRAY ST is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) on Saturday games this season.
MURRAY ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
MURRAY ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.

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

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MARYLAND (23 - 10) vs. LSU (27 - 6) - 3/23/2019, 3:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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WOFFORD (30 - 4) vs. KENTUCKY (28 - 6) - 3/23/2019, 2:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENTUCKY is 93-65 ATS (+21.5 Units) in March games since 1997.
WOFFORD is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games this season.
WOFFORD is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
WOFFORD is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
WOFFORD is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games in March games over the last 2 seasons.
WOFFORD is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
WOFFORD is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
WOFFORD is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more this season.
WOFFORD is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
WOFFORD is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WOFFORD is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.

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

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MINNESOTA (22 - 13) vs. MICHIGAN ST (29 - 6) - 3/23/2019, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 94-135 ATS (-54.5 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
MICHIGAN ST is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all games this season.
MICHIGAN ST is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
MICHIGAN ST is 100-65 ATS (+28.5 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 since 1997.
MICHIGAN ST is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) as a favorite this season.
MICHIGAN ST is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) against conference opponents this season.
MICHIGAN ST is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 20-7 ATS (+12.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MICHIGAN ST is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MICHIGAN ST is 4-1 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
MICHIGAN ST is 4-1 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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FLORIDA (20 - 15) vs. MICHIGAN (29 - 6) - 3/23/2019, 5:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MICHIGAN is 45-28 ATS (+14.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 45-28 ATS (+14.2 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 36-24 ATS (+9.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 69-47 ATS (+17.3 Units) in March games since 1997.
MICHIGAN is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MICHIGAN is 27-13 ATS (+12.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 139-107 ATS (+21.3 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
FLORIDA is 82-53 ATS (+23.7 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.

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

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AUBURN (27 - 9) vs. KANSAS (26 - 9) - 3/23/2019, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in road games on Saturday games this season.

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

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BAYLOR (20 - 13) vs. GONZAGA (31 - 3) - 3/23/2019, 7:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GONZAGA is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all games this season.
GONZAGA is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
GONZAGA is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
GONZAGA is 160-116 ATS (+32.4 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
GONZAGA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
GONZAGA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in non-conference games this season.
GONZAGA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
GONZAGA is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) after scoring 80 points or more this season.
BAYLOR is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.

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

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ARKANSAS (18 - 15) at INDIANA (18 - 15) - 3/23/2019, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARKANSAS is 85-128 ATS (-55.8 Units) in road games since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 85-128 ATS (-55.8 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 47-78 ATS (-38.8 Units) in road games on Saturday games since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 44-75 ATS (-38.5 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 101-148 ATS (-61.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 69-100 ATS (-41.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
INDIANA is 85-58 ATS (+21.2 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1997.
INDIANA is 62-39 ATS (+19.1 Units) in home games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
ARKANSAS is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 3 seasons.

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

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LIPSCOMB (26 - 7) at UNC-GREENSBORO (29 - 6) - 3/23/2019, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UNC-GREENSBORO is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
UNC-GREENSBORO is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LIPSCOMB is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in road games this season.
LIPSCOMB is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in road lined games this season.
LIPSCOMB is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
LIPSCOMB is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
LIPSCOMB is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
UNC-GREENSBORO is 67-95 ATS (-37.5 Units) after a non-conference game since 1997.
UNC-GREENSBORO is 37-58 ATS (-26.8 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.

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

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FLA INTERNATIONAL (19 - 13) at TEXAS ST (24 - 9) - 3/23/2019, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS ST is 27-13 ATS (+12.7 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
FLA INTERNATIONAL is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS ST is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in home games after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS ST is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in home games after scoring 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS ST is 12-27 ATS (-17.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.

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

Saturday, March 23

Trend Report

Arkansas @ Indiana
Arkansas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arkansas's last 5 games on the road
Arkansas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Indiana
Indiana is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Indiana is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games

Maryland @ LSU
Maryland
Maryland is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Maryland's last 6 games
LSU
LSU is 20-3 SU in its last 23 games
LSU is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games

Lipscomb @ UNC Greensboro
Lipscomb
No trends to report
UNC Greensboro
UNC Greensboro is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
UNC Greensboro is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games

Wofford @ Kentucky
Wofford
Wofford is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Wofford is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Kentucky
Kentucky is 18-3 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Kentucky's last 14 games

Florida @ Michigan
Florida
Florida is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Florida's last 5 games
Michigan
Michigan is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
Michigan is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games

Murray State @ Florida State
Murray State
Murray State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Murray State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Florida State
Florida State is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida State's last 9 games

Florida International @ Texas State
Florida International
Florida International is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Florida International is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Texas State
Texas State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas State's last 5 games at home

Baylor @ Gonzaga
Baylor
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Baylor's last 9 games
Baylor is 3-7-2 ATS in its last 12 games
Gonzaga
Gonzaga is 22-1 SU in its last 23 games
Gonzaga is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games

Minnesota @ Michigan State
Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Michigan State
Minnesota is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Michigan State
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Michigan State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota

Villanova @ Purdue
Villanova
Villanova is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Villanova's last 5 games
Purdue
Purdue is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games
Purdue is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games

Auburn @ Kansas
Auburn
Auburn is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Auburn is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Kansas
Kansas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
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