Selection Sunday is only some days away, however within the meantime now we have a feast of conference match games to observe — and doubtlessly wager on. We’ve already seen upsets that may impression the bracket and loads of buzzer-beaters — all indicators that March is right here.
Our college basketball handicappers — Matt Russell and Corbie Craig — can be right here all through March, offering their evaluation on all issues college basketball betting for Yahoo Sports.
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To start, they have a look at their favourite bets for Thursday’s conference tourney games, together with a few futures wagers.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Thursday’s greatest college basketball bets
ACC: (6) Louisville (-2.5, 151.5) vs. (3) Miami (FL)
Russell: The Cardinals received once more with out Mikel Brown Jr., so the betting market is much less keen to downgrade Louisville, regardless of not coming near protecting as a 6.5-point favourite over SMU. We’ll by no means know, but when the Mustangs hadn’t been with out a outstanding participant of their very own, they could have received outright.
Miami is available in as a relative unknown, however Jai Lucas has put collectively a group that didn’t have the chance to be measured in opposition to Duke and let just a few shut games slip to different prime groups within the ACC. The Hurricanes’ frontline matches up properly with Louisville, and with out Brown there to loosen issues up, I’ve the Canes because the extra probably winner — though they are not lined that means.
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Bet: Miami (FL) +1.5
Big 12: (5) Iowa State (-5.5, 143.5) vs. (4) Texas Tech
Russell: Maybe this line is all primarily based on pleasure over Iowa State beating Arizona State by roughly a billion factors on Wednesday, however the Sun Devils have been greater than complicit, as they turned the ball over on virtually each possession earlier than anybody had lunch in Kansas City.
It’s extra probably a reversion to the wide-scale promote on the Red Raiders after the season-ending damage to JT Toppin, however Texas Tech has confirmed again and again that it will possibly compete with out him. Having excellent shooters has helped, however the Raiders defend the three as properly. The Cyclones skilled this first-hand when Tech went to Hilton Coliseum and hid all of the magic with a 82-73 win simply three games in the past.
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The line has drifted as much as -5.5 as a result of the Cyclones have been -10.5 at residence that day, however that line was additionally confirmed flawed.
Bet: Texas Tech +5.5
Big Ten: (9) Iowa (-1.5, 138.5) vs. (8) Ohio State
Russell: They’re not the perfect group within the Big Ten, however Ohio State could be the hardest. The Buckeyes can rating too, which is essential in opposition to a Hawkeyes group that’s really recognized for protection this season. Some of that’s by default, as a result of if Bennett Stirtz doesn’t have it going, the Hawkeyes can look disorganized shortly, and so they have to hold their hat on one thing.
Iowa was towards the underside of the Big Ten in rebounds accrued and turnovers handed out, that are two issues that Jake Diebler’s group can dine out on. The Buckeyes have been among the many conference title contenders in a single factor — 3-point capturing, which is one thing we used to order for Iowa.
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Bet: Ohio State +1
Big Ten: (15) Northwestern vs. (7) Purdue (-11.5, 141.5)
Craig: Northwestern’s offense hasn’t been fairly, however the Wildcats have quietly discovered methods to pull opponents into their most popular tempo. After cashing an beneath of their first Big Ten match sport, the matchup with Purdue units up for the same script.
The Wildcats’ unconventional lineup has created actual issues for the Boilermakers. The potential to match velocity with velocity on the massive man place disrupts Purdue’s major motion — the excessive ball display screen orchestrated by Braden Smith. For years, Purdue has punished defenses with slip passes and fast inside appears to be like off that motion, however Northwestern’s mobility has taken these straightforward reads away. When these choices disappear, Purdue’s offense tends to grind down.
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In the final assembly, the Boilermakers have been compelled right into a a lot slower, extra methodical half-court assault whereas looking for different scoring alternatives in a sport they virtually misplaced outright.
Bet: Under 141.5
Conference USA: (5) Middle Tennessee (-1.5, 131.5) vs. (4) Louisiana Tech
Craig: Conference match openers typically include ugly expectations, however this Conference USA matchup might quietly play quicker than the market suggests.
The Bulldogs have performed at one of many slowest tempos within the nation all season, rating close to the underside nationally in adjusted tempo, however that status is a bit deceptive. Louisiana Tech’s identification is constructed extra on defensive management than a really stagnant offense, typically forcing opponents into uncomfortable shot profiles quite than merely bleeding the clock. That defensive funnel confirmed up within the first assembly with Middle Tennessee, the place the Raiders settled for a heavy weight-reduction plan of contested appears to be like contained in the arc, enjoying instantly into Louisiana Tech’s strengths. The matchup dynamics might look completely different within the rematch.
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The Blue Raiders rank among the many extra aggressive 3-point capturing groups within the nation with a top-60 3-point try fee, and conference match prep time offers them a possibility to regulate after seeing the Bulldogs’ scheme as soon as already.
Bet: Over 130.5
