Basketball Betting Odds and Preview Capsules: March 27
Atssportsline.com
There's one more day before the Sweet 16 tips off. This is Wednesday and hump day which features an astounding 14 NBA games. The NIT is also on tap with three games. The NCAA Tournament returns on Thursday, but this is still March Madness, with teams still playing for something. We'll take a look at some of the top betting matchups below. If you are looking for some assistance for March Madness, ATS Sportsline has all your college basketball betting resources.
owa Hawkeyes (23-12 SU, 22-9 ATS) at Virginia Cavaliers (23-11 SU, 18-12-1 ATS)
Intangibles:
Virginia is 20-0 straight up at home this year.
Iowa is 2-8 straight up on the road.
Iowa's Roy Devyn Marble is averaging 26 points in Iowa's two NIT wins.
Keys to Success:
The winner of this game will face Maryland in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York next Tuesday. Virginia has the fourth-best scoring defense in the country (55 points per game allowed) and takes on an Iowa team that ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (70.4 points). Virginia needs a big game from Joe Harris, who averages 16.4 points but hasn't reached that average since scoring 36 on Feb. 28 at Duke. He scored just seven points in their win over St. John's. Iowa allows just 62.6 points per game and teams to shoot 29.1 percent from three-point range and 38.8 percent from the field. They have issues from beyond the arc, shooting just 30.4 percent from three-point range.
Iowa has won five of six, including crushing Stony Brook, 75-63 giving 8.5 last Friday at home. Virginia has won three of four including beating St. John's, 68-50, giving 10.5 last Sunday at home. Iowa is 21-6 ATS last 27 overall. College Basketball Lines: Virginia is a 4-point betting odds favorite. Total: 123.0.
BYU Cougars (23-11 SU, 15-17-1 ATS) at Southern Miss Golden Eagles (27-9 SU, 16-16-1 ATS)
Intangibles:
Southern Miss has won 30 straight non-conference games at home
BYU guard Tyler Haws leads the team in scoring at 21.5 points per game
BYU big man Brandon Davies is averaging 18 points and 7.9 rebounds
Keys to Success:
The winner of this game faces the winner of Providence/Baylor. Southern Miss is an outstanding defensive team, ranking fourth in the nation in steals per game with 9.8 per game. The Golden Eagles have to use their quickness against BYU, because they don't have a starter taller than 6-foot-7. They'll have to keep Brandon Davies (6-9, 235) off the boards. BYU has plenty of scoring led by Haws, Davies and guard Matt Carlino, a UCLA transfer. Carlino has averaged 18 points, nine assists and 6.5 rebounds in the first two NIT games.
BYU has won three of four including a 90-71 dominant performance over Mercer on Monday, giving 8.5. Southern Miss has won five of six, including beat Louisiana Tech, 63-52 on Monday, giving 6 points. BYU is 4-12 ATS last 16 road games. College Basketball Odds: Southern Miss is a 5.5-point betting odds favorite. Total: 151.0.
Providence Friars (19-14 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) at Baylor Bears (20-14 SU, 14-15 ATS)
Intangibles:
Providence is 4-7 SU on the road and 1-3 SU on neutral courts.
Providence shoots just 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Baylor guard Pierre Jackson averages 19.7 points and 6.7 assists.
Keys to Success:
Baylor needs 7-foot-1 freshman center Isaiah Austin to play better. He's averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds, but has reached double digit rebounds in just one in the last 11 games. While Jackson put up 16 assists in Friday's win over Arizona State for Baylor, Providence has a very good guard in junior Bryce Cotton. The shooting guard averages 19.6 points and is averaging 22.5 points per game in the first two games of the NIT. Providence's stellar defense, which allows teams to shoot just 41.5 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from beyond the arc will have to slow down Jackson, Austin and 6-9 junior forward Cory Jefferson (12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds).
Providence is coming off a 77-68 win over Robert Morris, on March 25, giving 7.5. Baylor has won three of four, including edging Arizona State, 89-86, giving 8.5 on Friday. Providence is 0-5 ATS last 5 in the Big 12. Basketball Odds: Baylor is a 9-point betting odds favorite. Total: 148.0.