Ricky Dimon
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The first round of the NCAA Tournament—two of the best days on the sports calendar—tipped off on Friday and continues on Saturday. To get you ready another 12-plus hours of March Madness, we will break down some of the recent line movements and take a look at where there could be favorable betting opportunities.
In Wednesday’s March Madness daily update, we referenced some of the line moves. Now it’s time to go in depth on a few of those developments.
Line movements
Move for the favorite
West Virginia -12 to -13 vs. Morehead State
Colorado -5 to -6.5 vs. Georgetown
Move for the underdog
Ohio +9.5 to +7.5 vs. Virginia
Missouri +2 to +1 vs. Oklahoma
VCU +6 to +5 vs. Oregon
Texas Southern +27 to +25.5
UCLA +4 to UCLA +2
Move for the over
Kansas-Eastern Washington total 142.5 to 146.5
Alabama-Iona total 145.5 to 147
Move for the under
Creighton-UCSB total 140.5 to 138.5
Oklahoma-Missouri 141 to 139.5
Virginia-Ohio 132 to 131
USC-Drake 138.5 to 135.5
USC Trojans vs. Drake Bulldogs
The total has not had a lot of time to move, but it has moved nonetheless. Drake played in the First Four on Thursday night and scraped past Wichita State 53-52 for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1971. Unsurprisingly, bettors are hammering the under following the Bulldogs’ low-scoring affair with Wichita State and it has come down from 138.5 to 135.5. USC boasts one of the best interior defenses in the nation. We are among those who taking the under between the Bulldogs and Trojans on Saturday.
USC Trojans vs. Drake Bulldogs preview and picks
BYU Cougars vs. UCLA Bruins
Similar to the Drake vs. USC game, this contest also hasn’t been on the board for too long. UCLA joined Drake in First Four action and survived a thriller of its own, making a late comeback in regulation before beating Michigan State 86-80. The Bruins were initially +4 underdogs against BYU, but now they are getting only two points. Head coach Mick Cronin is hopeful that guard Johnny Juzang (23 points against the Spartans) can play on Saturday after injuring his ankle in OT.
BYU Cougars vs. UCLA Bruins preview and picks
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Georgetown Hoyas
It’s one of those pesky 5-vs.-12 matchups between Colorado and Georgetown on Saturday. Money has come in on the favored Buffaloes, who were -5 at first but are now -6.5. We have also liked the Buffs from the start. Georgetown did well to win the Big East Tournament, but the Hoyas were not even close to being on the bubble prior to that improbable run. Colorado is arguably the best team in the Pac-12.
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Georgetown Hoyas preview and picks
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