Basketball Betting Matchups and Capsules: March 19
Atssportsline.com
The First Four starts on Tuesday so get your March Madness Bracket out and check all the sports betting resources. College basketball takes center stage and all you have to do is find TruTV to check these games out. The NIT also starts tonight. If you are looking for assistance, ATS Sportsline has the best betting resources. Don't forget to check all the updated betting odds throughout the day before you make your selection.
Get ready for some great hoops action!
Liberty Flames (15-20 SU, 5-3 ATS) vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (19-16 SU, 7-0 ATS)
Intangibles:
Liberty has won five straight games.
North Carolina A&T has won 16th MEAC Championships
The Aggies have limited eight of their last nine opponents to 57 points or less.
Keys to Success:
North Carolina A&T's defense wins games for them. They won four straight, including winning the MEAC tournament as seventh seed. They have an experienced group with seven seniors. Liberty is even more of a Cinderella story as they won the big South, beating the three teams with the best regular-season records. They shot 49 percent from three-point range in their last five games. If that continues, the Flames should advance to the second round.
North Carolina A&T beat Morgan State to win the MEAC, 57-54 as a 4-point dog. Liberty shocked Charleston Southern, 87-76, getting 7.5 to win the the Big South. Both teams are hot coming in and at least one will come away with their first NCAA Tournament win ever. Liberty is 2-7 ATS last 9 neutral site games. College Basketball Odds: North Carolina A&T is a 3-point betting odds favorite. Total: 126.
St. Mary's Gaels (27-6 SU, 15-14-1 ATS) vs. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (28-5 SU, 14-14-1 ATS)
Intangibles:
St. Mary's has won 17 of 20 losing all three to Gonzaga.
St. Mary's has one of the better players in the tournament in Matthew Dallevedova
Middle Tennessee State has a bench that provides 42 percent of their scoring.
Keys to Success:
St. Mary's must defend a very balanced squad that has just one double-digit scorer in Marcos Knight (12.5). Middle Tennessee State has to get over losing in the Sun Belt tournament to Florida International. Both made it as at-large teams based on quality wins, which is why they are 11th seeds.
St. Mary's won six of seven but lost to Gonzaga, in the West Coast Conference final, 65-51, getting 6.5. Middle Tennessee State lost to Florida International in the Sun Belt semifinals on March 10, 61-57 as 13-point favorite. The winner takes on Memphis on Thursday. St. Mary's is 1-4 ATS last five neutral site games. College Basketball Lines: St. Mary's is a 3-point betting odds favorite. Total: 132.