Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 3/30/19
Over last 21 years, underdogs are 17-4 vs spread in West Region final, with 12 SU wins. Last five years nationally, #1-seeds are 4-9-1 vs spread in regional finals. Texas Tech won its first three tourney games, by 15-20-19 points; they’re 12-1 in last 13 games, somehow losing to a lousy West Virginia team in their first game of Big X tourney. Red Raiders’ defense has #2 eFG% in nation; they’re 15-1 outside Big X, with only loss to Duke. Gonzaga is 16-2 outside WCC, losing to North Carolina, Tennessee; they won first three tourney games, by 38-12-14 points. Zags have #1 eFG% offense in country, so good contrast here.
Virginia allowed 55.3 ppg in winning first three tourney games, despite shooting 28.8% on arc in those games. Guy is 5-31 on arc in his last four games. Cavaliers are 15-0 outside the ACC this year; they beat Wisconsin by 7, Maryland by 5 in Big 14 games this year. Virginia plays slowest tempo games in country; despite recent slump, they’re 39.6% behind arc for the year. Purdue blew an 18-point 2nd half lead Thursday, won in OT; PG Edwards played whole 45:00, 7-footer Haarms played 36:00. Last five years, #1-seeds are 4-9-1 vs spread in regional finals; Virginia (-6.5) lost this game to a 10-seed three years ago.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Preview and Predictions 03-30-2019 in NCAAB
Texas Tech has used stifling defense to advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year, holding Big Ten heavyweight Michigan to just 16 first-half points and a season low in points in a dominating 63-44 victory on Thursday night in the Sweet 16. But for the Red Raiders to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history, they will have to find a way to slow down the nation's No. 1 offense, Gonzaga, on Saturday night in the West Regional final in Anaheim, Calif.
The top-seeded Zags, who disposed of No. 4 seed Florida State, 72-58, earlier on Thursday night, lead the nation in scoring (88.2), field-goal percentage (52.8), scoring margin (23.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.76) and will be attempting to reach the Final Four for the second time in three years. "I've seen Gonzaga as much as anybody, just as a fan," Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. "I mentioned this (Wednesday), we show our team clips of winning basketball. We show a lot of Gonzaga clips. Their passion, their togetherness, their courage, how aggressive they are ... I can say this early on no one has more respect for Gonzaga than I do personally and our program." Although known for their explosive offense, the Zags showed they can play a little defense too in their victory over the Seminoles, holding Florida State to just 39.3 percent shooting, including 3-of-20 from 3-point range, while also outrebounding the taller Seminoles, 45-36. "Simply stated, we think they're one of the best teams in college basketball," Beard said. "We think we'll have to play our best 40 minutes of the year to advance, so that is our objective."
TV: 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (29-6): Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver, regarded as a potential NBA lottery pick after garnering Big 12 Player of the Year honors, leads the team in scoring (18.9), rebounding (6.4), assists (3.8) and steals (1.5) and had a team-high 22 points in the win over Michigan. Sophomore guard Davide Moretti is second in scoring (11.6) while shooting a team best 46.2 percent from 3-point range and had 15 points, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, against the Wolverines. Matt Mooney, a 6-3 grad transfer from South Dakota, also is averaging in double figures (10.9) while 6-10 forward Tariq Owens, a grad transfer from St. John's, gives the Red Raiders a key shot-blocking presence in the paint with 85 blocks and is also averaging 8.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
ABOUT GONZAGA (33-3): The Zags have not one but two 6-8 junior forwards who are likely lottery picks in West Coast Conference Player of the Year Rui Hachimura, who leads the team in scoring (19.6) while also shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range, and WCC Defensive Player of the Year Brandon Clarke, who is averaging 16.9 points and a team best 8.5 rebounds and leads the NCAA with 115 blocks, including five against Florida State. Clarke, a transfer from San Jose State, had 36 points in the Zags' 83-71 second-round win over Baylor, breaking the school's NCAA Tournament single-game mark of 35 set by Adam Morrison. Guards Zach Norvell Jr. (15.1) and Josh Perkins (10.9) also are averaging in doubles figures with Perkins ranking eighth nationally with 228 assists.
TIP-INS
1. Texas Tech leads the all-time series with Gonzaga, 2-0, including a 71-69 victory in the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
2. Clarke, who is shooting a WCC-best 68.7 percent from the floor, has more blocks (115) than missed shots (114) this season.
3. Gonzaga has won 30 games by double-digits, including 20 by 20 or more points.
PREDICTION: Gonzaga 77, Texas Tech 66
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Purdue Boilermakers vs. Virginia Cavaliers Preview and Predictions 03-30-2019 in NCAAB
A lengthy Final Four drought will end Saturday, when South Region No. 1 seed Virginia takes on third-seeded Purdue in Louisville, Ky. for a spot in the national semifinals. The Cavaliers have not reached the Final Four since 1984, while Purdue's drought dates back to 1980.
Virginia has bounced back from last season's embarrassing upset against a 16th seed in its tournament opener - not to mention a first-round scare this year - to defeat Gardner-Webb, Oklahoma and Oregon - all seeded ninth or lower. The Cavaliers better bring their 'A-game' against a Boilermakers squad that has shut down Old Dominion, routed defending champion Villanova and outlasted Tennessee in overtime in the first three rounds of this event. All of that has led to a matchup between defensive-minded Virginia, which has allowed a national-best 54.8 points this season, and a Purdue squad that averages more than 20 points above that figure. "I'm pretty sure it's going to be an amazing environment. So just the game you dream of as a kid," said Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, who must keep a close eye on Boilermakers guards Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline.
TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, TBS
ABOUT PURDUE (26-9): Purdue blew an 18-point lead in the Sweet 16 but survived behind a career-high 27 points from Cline, a pair of tying free throws late in regulation by Edwards (29 points) and a stunning 15-of-31 performance from long range. Cline made 7-of-10 from beyond the arc, while Edwards was 5-of-14, giving him 18 3s through the first three rounds. Edwards and Cline have combined to attempt a startling 622 3-pointers this season, although Virginia can't lose sight of 7-3 center Matt Haarms, who has registered double-digit points in eight of the last nine games.
ABOUT VIRGINIA (32-3): The Cavaliers somehow defeated Oregon without a single bench point, not to mention poor shooting from the field (35.7 percent) and the 3-point line (9-of-33). Jerome had a team-high 13 points against the Ducks, adding six assists, six rebounds and two steals while playing 39 minutes. Mamadi Diakite only averages 4.2 rebounds on the season, but he has pitched in a career-high nine rebounds against Gardner-Webb, matched that total against Oklahoma and then topped it with 11 boards versus Oregon, plus he is contributing 12.7 points in this event - well above his season average (7.3).
TIP-INS
1. Edwards is Purdue's all-time leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament (182 points) and has recorded four straight performances with at least 25 points in the Big Dance - the first player to do that since Davidson's Steph Curry in 2007 and 2008.
2. Virginia F De'Andre Hunter averages 15.1 points but has surpassed 16 points only once in his last six games - a 23-point effort in the first round against Gardner-Webb.
3. The Cavaliers have held 11 opponents below 50 points this season.
PREDICTION: Virginia 69, Purdue 66
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Joe Williams
West Region Final (Anaheim, CA)
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (TBS, 6:09 PM EST)
Opening Odds: Gonzaga -4½, 137
-- Texas Tech (29-6 SU, 18-16 ATS) registered a 63-44 victory against Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight. A No. 1 seed stands in the way of their first-ever trip to a Final Four for the Red Raiders.
-- The Red Raiders have won each of their three NCAA Tournament games by at least 15 points, winning by an average of 18.0 points per game (PPG). The Red Raiders are 3-0 against the spread with the 'under' 3-0 in their three games so far during the Big Dance.
-- Jarrett Culver continues to improve his NBA draft stock, as he dropped 22 points on 9-for-19 shooting across 32 minutes in the victory against the Wolverines. He misfired on all five of his 3-pointer attempts, but he was 4-for-4 at the charity stripe while adding four rebounds, three steals and just one turnover. Culver is averaging 22.3 PPG, 5.3 assists per game (APG) and 7.3 rebounds per game (RPG) through his three tournament games.
-- The Red Raiders benefited by the fact the Wolverines went 1-for-19 (5.3 percent) from downtown, but the Texas Tech defense obviously had a lot to do with that poor shooting. They also finished 16-for-49 (32.7 percent) from the field, as the Red Raiders were relentless on the defensive end.
-- Texas Tech ended up shooting 43.6 percent (24-for-55) from the field, including 6-for-19 (31.6 percent) from behind the perimeter while being outrebounded 33-27. The Red Raiders took decent care of the basketball, however, turning it over just seven total times to 14 for Michigan.
-- The Red Raiders roll into this one 6-1 ATS over the past seven outings, and they're 5-1 ATS in the past six NCAA Tournament games. They're also 10-1 ATS in the past 11 against teams with a winning overall record.
-- The 'under' has cashed in four straight NCAA Touranemnt games, and the under is 19-7 in the past 26 neutral-site battles while going 46-21-1 in the past 68 non-conference battles.
-- Gonzaga (33-3 SU, 23-13 ATS) dropped Florida State by a 14-point margin in the third round, and they have won each of their first three NCAA Tournament games by 12 or more points. Expect the Bulldogs to get a much better test from the defensive-minded Red Raiders.
-- The Bulldogs saw Brandon Clarke posted a double-double, as he registered 15 points with 12 rebounds, two assists and a steal with five blocked shots across 34 minutes on 6-for-15 shooting. The Zags had balanced scoring, as Rui Hachimura had 17 points, Zach Norvell Jr. had 14 points and Josh Perkins ended up with 14 points. Norvell Jr. led the way with four of the team's seven triples against the Seminoles.
-- Clarke has been a blocked shots machine in the NCAA Tournament, registered 13 swats through three games, and he has at least one blocked shot in 16 consecutive games since Jan. 19 in a lopsided win at Portland.
-- Gonzaga ended up No. 1 in the nation with 88.2 points per game, and they also led the country with a 52.8 field-goal percentage, and they're a good free-throw shooting team, too. Often overlooked is their defense, as they ranked sixth in opponent field-goal percentage at 38.7, and they were a solid 18th in 3-pointer percentage defense.
-- The Bulldogs, one of three remaining No. 1 seeds after UNC got the gate on Friday, have covered in six of their past seven non-conference games. They're also 9-4-1 ATS in the past 14 games against Big 12 foes.
-- Gonzaga has cashed the under in six of their past seven non-conference tilts, while the under is 5-2 in the past seven NCAA Tournament battles. The under is also 11-5 in the past 16 following a cover in their previous outing.
-- These teams last met on Nov. 23, 2007, with Gonzaga falling 73-63.
West Region Final (Louisville, KY)
No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 1 Virginia (TBS, 8:49 PM EST)
Opening Odds: Virginia -4½, 126
-- Purdue (26-9 SU, 20-14 ATS) bumped off the No. 2 seed Tennessee in an overtime thriller, 99-94, as Carsen Edwards continues to roll up big numbers. He went for 29 points, four rebounds, three assists and just one turnover with five 3-pointers, as his solid NCAA Tournament continues. He has scored at least 26 points in each of his three NCAA Tournament games after a disappointing loss in the first game of their Big Ten Tournament against Minnesota. He is also averaging 5.7 RPG during the tourney.
-- The Boilermakers weren't a one-man band against the Vols, however. Ryam Cline went for 27 points, four assists and seven 3-pointers with a steal before fouling out in 29 minutes. Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms each contributed 11 points, and Haarms was a defensive force with three blocked shots.
-- Purdue was huge by hitting 15-of-31 shots from behind the arc, good for a 48.4 percent mark from downtown. And they barely won in overtime, as Tennessee was also 12-for-24 from down deep.
-- The Boilermakers have cashed in four of the past five outings, and they're 9-4 ATS in their past 13 NCAA Tournament battles while going 41-19 over the past 60 non-conference battles.
-- The over is 5-2 in the past seven games for Purdue, while going 40-17-1 in the past 58 neutral-site affairs. The over is also 5-0 in their past five following a straight-up win and 5-0 in their past five following a cover, too. The under is 13-6 in the past 19 against ACC foes, however.
-- Virginia (32-3 SU, 24-11 ATS) is doing what they do best in the NCAA Tournament, locking it down on defense. They have averaged just 62.3 PPG through their three games in the Big Dance. They're still thriving, winning by an average of 10.3 PPG, holding the opposition to 52.0 PPG.
-- In a defensive battle with a score reminiscent of the pre-shot clock era, UVA scratched out a 53-49 win against No. 11 Oregon on Thursday. Kyle Guy's shooting woes continued, as he was just 4-for-15 from the field, and 2-for-11 from behind the 3-point line, while ending up with 10 points and four rebounds in his 39 minutes. He is averaging just 7.3 PPG with 5.0 RPG so far in the Big Dance.
-- There were a lot of ugly offensive numbers on Thursday, as UVA hit just 20-of-56 from the field (35.7 percent), yet they still won. All five starters missed more shots than they took, and only five players even attempted a shot. Mamadi Diakite was a defensive force, pulling down 11 rebounds with two steals and two blocked shots to lead the way.
-- The Cavaliers check in 44-20-1 ATS in the past 65 games, and 4-1 ATS in their past five against the Big Ten. The Hoos are also 17-7 ATS in the past 24 against non-conference opponents. However, UVA is 1-6 ATS in the past seven NCAA Tournament battles.
-- The under is 4-1 in the past five for Virginia, while going 4-1 in their past five NCAA Tournament games, too. The under is 5-1 in the past six neutral-site contests, while cashing in seven of the past eight non-conference tilts. The under is also 8-3 in the past 11 battles for Virginia against the Big Ten conference.
-- This is the first meeting between these schools since Nov. 29, 2006 when the Boilermakers scratched out a 61-59 victory.
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Saturday, 30 March 2019 • 05:49 PM
681 PURDUE @ 682 VIRGINIA
Play on VIRGINIA against the spread in All games on Saturday games
The record is 8 Wins and 0 for the last two seasons (+8 units)
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Saturday, 30 March 2019 • 03:09 PM
683 TEXAS TECH @ 684 GONZAGA
Play under TEXAS TECH on the first half total in All games in non-conference games
The record is 0 Overs and 7 this season (+7 units)
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NCAAB
Long Sheet
Saturday, March 30
PURDUE (26 - 9) vs. VIRGINIA (32 - 3) - 3/30/2019, 8:49 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all games this season.
VIRGINIA is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
VIRGINIA is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
VIRGINIA is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
VIRGINIA is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
VIRGINIA is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PURDUE is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
PURDUE is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 43-64 ATS (-27.4 Units) in March games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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TEXAS TECH (29 - 6) vs. GONZAGA (33 - 3) - 3/30/2019, 6:09 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS TECH is 139-185 ATS (-64.5 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in a neutral court game where the total is 135 to 139.5 since 1997.
GONZAGA is 22-13 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all games this season.
GONZAGA is 22-13 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all lined games this season.
GONZAGA is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
GONZAGA is 160-117 ATS (+31.3 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
GONZAGA is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
GONZAGA is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in non-conference games this season.
TEXAS TECH is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) after allowing 60 points or less 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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NCAAB
Saturday, March 30
Trend Report
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Texas Tech is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas Tech's last 6 games
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Gonzaga is 24-1 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Gonzaga's last 6 games
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Purdue is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Purdue's last 7 games
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia is 17-8 ATS in its last 25 games
Virginia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Virginia is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia's last 5 games
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