NCAA Tournament - Two Games Spotlighted
|
|
Brought to you by:
 |
NCAA Tournament
#11 VCU (27-6) vs. #6 Duke (22-10)
7:10 pm Eastern
CBS
SBG Global Opening Line: Duke – 6.5
The Duke Blue Devils are in the NCAA Tournament as usual but things are not normal at Duke. The Blue Devils are normally ranked very high coming into the tournament with many people picking them to make the Final Four. This year many are wondering if they can win a game. As for tonight though, the gambling public at SBG Global are hoping the Blue Devils can regain form, with most early money on Duke laying the points.
Duke has not done well in the West part of the bracket. In 2003 they were seeded 3rd and lost in the Sweet 16 and in 1984 they were seeded 3rd and lost in the second round. Usually Duke is playing close to home but not this year as they have to play in New York. Duke lost 7 of its last 11 games and enters the tourney on a three game losing streak. "What we've tried to get across to our kids these last few days is, 'Don't take any baggage with you, good or bad. Let's clean out everything,'" head Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "You're 0-0 again, as an individual and as a team. No one has a better record than you and no one has better stats than you. Everyone starts out even." Defense is also a concern for Duke entering the tournament. They have given up 85 or more in all three games of their current losing streak.
Duke is a 6 point favorite with a total of 135 at SBG Global sportsbook.
Duke has a tough first round game as they face Virginia Commonwealth. Last year George Mason advanced to the Final Four out of the Colonial Athletic Association, also as an 11 seed. "What Mason did last year was special,” head coach Anthony Grant said. "I don't think anybody on our team right now is trying to duplicate or be what George Mason was. I think we're content being VCU and who we are, and we're going to make our own way.”
The Rams won 27 games this season setting a school record. Senior guard B.A. Walker led the Rams with 14.8 points per game. VCU averages 74.8 points per game and is 21-1 when scoring at least 70 points.
The Rams are making their eighth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2004, when they were seeded 13th and lost to Wake Forest in the first round.
The Rams are 5-1-2 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games. The Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
The Blue Devils are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 neutral site games. The Blue Devils are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
The Under is 5-0 in the Rams last 5 neutral site games. The Over is 9-1 in the Rams last 10 games as an underdog. The Over is 19-7 in the Rams last 26 overall. The Under is 7-1 in the Blue Devils last 8 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite. The Over is 4-1 in the Blue Devils last 5 overall.
The $500,000 Madness of March - King of the Hill Contest is held annually at SBG Global during the NCAA March Madness tourney. All active clients will receive one FREE entry into this exciting contest! Click here to join SBG Global today!
NCAA Tournament
#10 Gonzaga (23-10) vs. #7 Indiana (20-10)
9:45 pm Eastern
CBS
SBG Global Opening Line: Indiana – 1.5
Indiana and Gonzaga are meeting in a rematch from last year’s Tournament but that is about the only thing that is the same from last year. Both teams have new players and Indiana has a new coach. Early betting at SBG Global shows that with the line holding strong at – 1.5, the gambling public is split on the decision.
The Bulldogs beat the Hoosiers 90-80 in the second round of last season's tournament, advancing to the round of 16. If Gonzaga beats Indiana they would probably get a rematch with No. 2 seed UCLA, which knocked the Bulldogs out of the tournament last season. Indiana is a much different team this season and their best player D.J. White did not play in last year’s matchup. "Indiana is now a vastly different team," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Different philosophy, different style. D.J. White is now a big part of what they do. He didn't play against us last season, and our roster has changed dramatically."
Indiana is a 1.5 point favorite with a total of 142.5 at SBG Global sportsbook.
Gonzaga is also much different. Adam Morrison went to the NBA and the Bulldogs had to win their conference tournament to make the Dance this season. Gonzaga played without center Josh Heytvelt who was second on the team in scoring for much of the latter part of the season. He is still suspended but Gonzaga has rallied to play extremely well without him. "It's incredibly satisfying. It's as satisfying an accomplishment as I've ever had -- and that's from a guy who's had a lot of success in this program," Few said. "To accomplish this just speaks volumes about our program."
The Bulldogs have been a No. 10 seed twice before, reaching the regional finals in 1999 and the round of 16 in 2000. Indiana has never lost to a No. 10 seed in the NCAA’s, going 4-0, including two victories when seeded seventh.
Indiana struggled at the end of this season going 4-5. The Hoosiers really struggled on the road where they went 5-10. "I like the way we're playing, but offensively, we've got to score," said head coach Kelvin Sampson, "That's where we're struggling."
The Bulldogs are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Bulldogs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games as an underdog.
The Hoosiers are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 neutral site games as a favorite.
The Hoosiers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
The Over is 4-0 in the Bulldogs last 4 non-conference games. The Over is 6-1 in the Bulldogs last 7 overall. The Over is 19-7 in the Bulldogs last 26 games as an underdog. The Over is 5-1 in the Hoosiers last 6 NCAA Tournament games. The Over is 8-3-1 in the Hoosiers last 12 games as a favorite.
The $500,000 Madness of March - King of the Hill Contest is held annually at SBG Global during the NCAA March Madness tourney. All active clients will receive one FREE entry into this exciting contest! Click here to join SBG Global today!
|
