College basketball: Betting tips for first round of men’s NCAA
The 2023 NCAA tournament bracket was released on Sunday, with 68 of the country’s best groups set to battle for a journey to the Final Four in Houston.March Insanity likewise represents one of the most significant betting seasons on the calendar, as almost $15.5 billion will be banked on the men’s competition, according to an American Video gaming Association survey. Our ESPN sports wagering experts have you covered with their best option tips for the first round of the tournament.All odds are from
Caesars Sportsbook. Which team in the field has the leading betting value to win the tournament? Alabama Crimson Tide(+700)Borzello: I’m picking Alabama to win all of it, so while +700 is
n’t unbelievable value(second preferred), the Crimson Tide would be my best choice in order to have a legitimate possibility at a return. Deeper down the list, Marquette at +2000 offers tricky worth. The Golden Eagles simply went through the Big East tournament, have a beneficial bottom half of the bracket and likewise have the most susceptible 1-seed, Purdue, at the top of their region. I believe they get to the Final Four out of the East.Cuff: I concur with Jeff– Bama is my pick to win all of it. I think the Tide are the most dynamic team on both sides of the ball. At +700, the worth isn’t that bad, however Houston is the fastest preferred at +600, and those are the longest chances for a title preferred considering that 1994. For more worth, I believe Texas at +1200 is a strong play. The Longhorns have a fantastic path to the Elite 8 and might come up against a wounded Houston group if they get that far.Looking at Thursday’s and Friday’s first-round games, which are your preferred plays?Borzello: The total in Missouri-Utah State opened at 155,
and I like the UNDER there. Missouri dips into an above-average speed and is extremely efficient offensively, but the Tigers tend to play in lower-scoring games versus competitive opponents. In their past 12 games against NCAA tournament competitors, they have actually gone under 9 times. Utah State is favored and plays a slower tempo than Missouri, so this feels like a game that won’t be played in the mid- to high 70s. Borzello: OVER 152 in Auburn-Iowa is another favorite. It ought to be a competitive game and both teams tend to play quicker in games against nonconference challengers. Auburn ended the season discussing in 4 of its previous 5 games and 11 of its past 17 games, while Iowa reviewed in 3 of its previous 4 games and 8 of its previous 12. play 0:34 Why Dalen Cuff has No. 12 VCU disturbing No. 5 Saint Mary’s Dalen Cuff describes why he has No. 12 VCU removing No. 5 Saint Mary’s as one of his favorite bets in the first round.Cuff: VCU ML( +162 )over St. Mary’s. The Gaels battle with athleticism on both ends and their offense can end up being rather pedestrian when star freshman point guard Aidan Mahaney
is secured of games. I covered a great deal of A-10 games this year, and
VCU’s Ace Baldwin delights in chances to show he’s the very best point player on the flooring. The Rams are an elite protective group that will interrupt and irritate the slow-paced Gaels offense.Cuff: SDSU -5 vs. Charleston. The Cougars are a media darling and excellent, however they played so couple of high-major challengers, specifically ones that were extremely ranked defensively. The Aztecs will manage the pace of the game and grind the Cougars in such a way they have not seen all season.Fulghum: I like Missouri ML(+105)in its match with Utah State. I understand the computers and algos haven’t believed much of Mizzou this season, but the Tigers kept winning.
A team that completed 4th in the SEC is an underdog as a 7-seed in the first round versus a team that ended up second in the Mountain West? Does not accumulate. Missouri is tough, solid and filled with veteran upperclassmen.play 0:37 Why Tyler Fulghum enjoys taking the points with Louisiana Tyler Fulghum explains why he likes
banking on Louisiana against the spread vs. Tennessee.I also like Louisiana +11 vs. Tennessee. For one, Tennessee likes to play in low-scoring games, so catching 11 points is extremely appealing. The Vols will lack Zakai Zeigler for the competition, which’s a huge loss. Plus, Rick Barnes has a history of struggles in the tournament. He’s 16-25-1 ATS in the tournament as a favorite.Lastly, I’ll take Arkansas -2 vs. Illinois.
I do not know what happened to Brad Underwood’s group this season after they lost the Braggin’Rights Video Game to Mizzou, however it was a catastrophe. If they weren’t a Big Ten team, they might not have actually made it into
this field. I know the Razorbacks were a dissatisfaction also, however the SEC provided much better competitors, and they’re just a more gifted team.Fortenbaugh: Drake +2.5 over Miami. Having actually won 13 of their previous 14 trips, the Bulldogs are white-hot thanks to an offense that ranks top-50 in 3-point shooting and top-20 in complimentary throw shooting.
Even more, Drake boasts among the most knowledgeable lineups in the entire tournament.Furman(+185)on the moneyline over Virginia. The Paladins enter the dance having won 14 of their past 15 contests and are constructed to beat a group like Virginia, thanks to their love of the 3-pointer (top-10 in 3-point attempts per game). Furman’s weakness is its rebounding, which I do not see the Cavaliers exploiting.Which betting upset are you targeting?Borzello: I’m taking a look at two 13-seeds: Furman(+6.5, +185 ML)against Virginia and Kent State (+4, +158 ML )against Indiana. I have both teams winning outright. Virginia hasn’t looked its finest in recent weeks and lost Ben Vander Plas for the season, while Furman has 2 genuine high-major-caliber players in Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson. On The Other Hand, Kent State must have the ability to restrict Jalen Hood-Schifino with elite defender Malique Jacobs, and Sincere Carry is as difficult as they begin the offensive end. Trayce Jackson-Davis should get his, but he’ll require help.I also like Penn State (+3)as an underdog versus Texas A&M. The way to beat the Nittany Lions is to win the 3-point battle: make your own threes and limit their threes. A&M ranked near the bottom of the SEC in 3-point
attempts and percentage of points from 3, while likewise ranking dead last in the league in 3-point attempts allowed.Cuff: I really like Furman and Kent State, as Borzello pointed out. I like Creighton, however NC State (+5.5) might easily win that game. I believe the winner of that game beats Baylor and is going to the Sugary food 16. The Wolfpack have a top-20 pick in the NBA draft in Terquavion Smith and another dynamic pail getter in Jarkel Joiner. With D.J. Burns Jr. on the interior, other shooters on the floor and an ability to turn teams over and play quick, the Load are dangerous.Fulghum: Appears like Furman(+6.5 )is going to be truly popular. VCU(+4 )and Iona (+9) likewise stick out to me as two teams that we could see pull off upsets and meet in Round 2 … putting at least one 12- or 13-seed into the Sweet Sixteen.12-seeds are 8-4 ATS(4-4 outright )vs. 5-seeds the previous 3 tournaments. Exists one you like here? Borzello: I like VCU(+162)to beat Saint Mary’s outright. Both groups carry out at a high level defensively and are comfy in a half-court setting, so do not expect offensive fireworks. The difference for me is VCU’s speed and tenaciousness on the border defensively. Ace Baldwin was the very best protective player in the Atlantic 10, while Jayden Nunn and Nick Kern Jr. love to inconvenience opposing guards. Their size and length will make
life hard for Aidan Mahaney and Logan Johnson.play 0:31 Why sports wagerers should not sleep on Oral Roberts Joe Fortenbaugh describes why Oral Roberts getting the points is one of his preferred bets of the week.Cuff: I love Oral Roberts, however their draw with Duke is a bad matchup.
I said previously I am on No. 5 SDSU over No. 12 Charleston and No. 12 VCU ML over No. 5 St. Mary’s. That leaves No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Drake. If Norchad Omier isn’t healthy for Miami, Drake might pull the upset. Tucker DeVries is legitimate and Roman Penn and Darnell Brodie were both key players on the 2021 group that beat Wichita State in their first-round match. As much as I like Miami and their terrific guards, this is a hard matchup, as evidenced by a 2.5 line in favor of the Canes.Fulghum: VCU (+162)is the 12-seed that I have advancing furthest in my bracket. They’re just a 4.5-point underdog in the preliminary against St. Mary’s, and regardless of some metrics that suggest to the contrary, I haven’t been all that impressed with St. Mary’s this season. Fortenbaugh: Oral Roberts(+240)over Duke.
I think heaven Devils are overvalued after going through
an average ACC. Oral Roberts plays quick(38th in adjusted tempo ), shoots the lights out
and does an exceptional job securing the basketball( initially in NCAA in turnover portion). Anything else you are looking to bet prior to the competition tips off?Borzello: Kansas State -8 vs. Montana State. Here are Montana State’s past three games versus significant conference competitors: 21-point loss to Arizona, 30-point loss to Oregon and then a 35-point loss to Texas Tech in last season’s NCAA tournament. I like Kansas State by double digits.It’s likewise worth conjecturing on Duke to make the Final Four at +850. Heaven Devils’ region must open pretty nicely for them, specifically if 1-seed
Purdue gets bounced by Memphis in the 2nd round. The Boilermakers look susceptible, 4-seed Tennessee does not have Zakai Zeigler anymore and 3-seed Kansas State has actually lost 2 in a row and is 8-8 in its past 16 games. Include the truth that Duke would play the regionals at Madison Square Garden, which is often a pseudo-home environment for heaven Devils, and they would feel positive against Marquette as well.Two Sweet 16 bets I also like: Furman at +790 and Memphis at +425 Cuff: I’m with Jeff; Memphis +425 to the Sugary food 16 is among my favorite plays in the bracket. I’m out on Purdue and their freshman guards. The Tigers’defensive chaos and Kendric Davis are too much … if they can get by Florida Atlantic initially. Duke +180 and UConn -115 to the Sweet 16 appear almost too great to be real. Love the Huskies’draw.