NCAA Tournament Odds: Betting lines released for all South Region games
The NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed in full, with the matchups set across the board and early betting lines released for all of them, courtesy of FanDuel.
There figure to be dozens of good matchups, with some regions having a few more anticipated close games than others.
The South Region has a good mix of both, at least going by the early betting lines. On3 stops to take a look at the early odds to see which matchups might be worth taking an even closer look at for those interested in laying down a wager. Let’s begin.
(10) Colorado -2.5 vs. (10) Boise State
The lone play-in game in the South Region, this one will pit a Pac-12 foe against a Mountain West one. Colorado comes into this game with 24 wins already and a slight favorite. The Buffaloes can score in bunches, with a roster that features five double-figure scorers, led by KJ Simpson‘s 19.6 points per game.
Boise State, on the other hand, earned a bid after winning 22 games. The Broncos will be on good rest after losing Thursday in the conference tournament to eventual champion New Mexico. Leading scorer Tyson Degenhart (17.0 points per game) does most of the damage for Boise State.
(6) Texas Tech -5.5 vs. (11) NC State
While Texas Tech earned a bid by being thoroughly competitive in a very good Big 12, NC State was a bid stealer, winning the ACC Tournament with a remarkable multi-day run. The Wolfpack were led by star DJ Burns, an immovable force on the inside. He scores 12.4 points per game, while leading scorer DJ Horne averages 16.9 per game.
The Red Raiders finished tied for third in the Big 12 with an 11-7 record, winning 23 games overall. They fell to Houston in the Big 12 semifinals. Pop Isaacs is the team’s leading scorer at 15.9 points per game, while guard Darrion Williams pulls down a team-leading 7.5 boards per game.
(3) Kentucky -12.5 vs. (14) Oakland
Kentucky finished tied for third in the SEC with 13 conference wins. The Wildcats can score points like nobody’s business, though defense is sometimes an issue. Star freshmen Rob Dillingham (15.4 points per game) and Reed Sheppard (12.8 points per game) complement leading scorer Antonio Reeves (20.0 points per game).
The Wildcats will face an Oakland squad that won the Horizon league to earn a Big Dance bid. The Grizzlies are led by forward Trey Townsend, who averages 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Oakland averages 76.4 points per game.
(1) Houston -23.5 vs. (16) Longwood
The top-seeded Cougars are a favorite to reach the Final Four, and as a result, they’re a massive favorite in the opening-round matchup against No. 16 seed Longwood. Houston was virtually unstoppable in winning the Big 12, despite a loss to Iowa State in the conference tournament title game. Houston’s defense is as good as there is in the NCAA Tournament.
Longwood won 21 games and actually finished fifth in the Big South before winning the conference tournament to earn a bid. The Lancers are led by guard Walyn Napper, who averages 14.6 points per game.
(2) Marquette -14.5 vs. (15) Western Kentucky
Marquette reached the NCAA Tournament by putting together a very strong season in the Big East, second only to UConn. The Golden Eagles finished second during the regular season and lost to the Huskies in the conference tournament title game.
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky advanced to the Big Dance by winning the Conference USA Tournament with a three-game run. The Hilltoppers had 22 wins and will enter hoping guard Don McHenry (15.2 points per game) can spark some magic against the region’s No. 2 seed.
(4) Duke -11.5 vs. (13) Vermont
Duke suffered a first-round exit in the ACC Tournament but was thoroughly impressive during the regular season, going 15-5. The Blue Devils have a good blend of size and athleticism, anchored by big man Kyle Filipowski and a pair of elite guards in Jeremy Roach and Jared McCain.
The Catamounts won the American East to advance to the NCAA Tournament, sporting a 28-6 record. Vermont averages 72.3 points per contest, with a trio of double-figure scorers on the roster.
(8) Nebraska -2.5 vs. (9) Texas A&M
Nebraska finished tied for third place in the Big Ten, and the Cornhuskers had some impressive showings in the Big Ten Tournament. Few players in the country are as good as guard Keisei Tominaga (14.9 points per game), who can get hot and go off at any point in a game.
Texas A&M has a similar player in the likes of Wade Taylor, a crafty veteran with range well beyond the 3-point arc. He and fellow guard Tyrece Radford have carried the Aggies, who won five in a row before exiting the SEC Tournament in the quarterfinals.
(5) Wisconsin -4.5 vs. (12) James Madison
Wisconsin advanced all the way to the Big Ten Tournament title game, currently playing as well as it’s played all season long. That run included an upset of Purdue, which earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Guard AJ Storr led the way, and he’s averaging 16.7 points per contest.
James Madison finished in second place in the Sun Belt in the regular season but won the conference tournament with a convincing run. At 31-3, the Dukes aren’t used to losing much. They have a regular-season win over Michigan State, so bigger programs aren’t going to prove overly intimidating. This should be one of the top No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups.