A huge contrast in styles is set to go down in Greenville, SC on Friday night when Steve Wojciechowski's Marquette Golden Eagles square off against Frank Martin’s South Carolina Gamecocks in the 7/10 matchup of the East Region. Marquette is back in the dance for the first time since 2013, and it will no doubt hit the ground running looking to unleash its high-powered offense upon a Cocks’ defense that ranks out as one of the best in the country.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena at 9:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 17, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on TBS. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every NCAA tournament game on Friday’s college basketball schedule.
College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Marquette +1.5
South Carolina -1.5
Over/Under 148
South Carolina was tabbed short 1 point favorites for this tilt against the Golden Eagles with the total lined at 146.5. Though 74 percent of the betting public has ridden Marquette since the open, the betting line jumped up a half point in favor of the Gamecocks moving it to 1.5. Surprising when you take into account SC did nothing but hemorrhage money for its supporters covering just one of its last 10 games; nine of which came in the chalk role of which they lost the game outright five times.
Also going against season-long trends are total bettors who hit the total up 1.5 points to 148 even though South Carolina was an under machine all season ( 11-17-1 ). All three of its neutral court affairs combined for low scorers with an average of 120.7 points per game hitting the board.
Key Stat
75.0 PPG – The Golden Eagles might possess the top ranked 3-point shooting percentage in the country, but they also own one of the nation’s worst scoring defenses. As fast as Markus Howard and company put points on the board, the defense gives them right back just as fast. That’s a huge boon for the Cocks who routinely struggled to put points on the board in the defensive heavy SEC. Even if Marquette finds a way to go on a couple runs, SC will never be out of it as bad a defense the Golden Eagles bring to the table.
Player to Watch
Sindarius Thornwell – The Golden Eagles will march five players onto the court all capable of going for double-digits. South Carolina is void of that type of scoring depth, but what it does possess is the best overall player that will take to the court for this matchup. Thornwell led the Gamecocks in scoring with an average of 21.0 points per game, and he proved to be a fine distributor of the rock by averaging nearly 3.0 assists per game. To make up for the offensive advantage Marquette holds, he’s going to have to put forth one of his best efforts of the season and make it a point to put points on the board when the team’s offense undoubtedly stalls. If not, the Cocks will be forced to unlace their dancing shoes real quick.
Free College Basketball ATS Pick
While Marquette came up with some nice wins this season like sweeping a pair from Creighton, I just don’t foresee that type of success carrying over to the Big Dance. Their porous defense always allows for the opposition to get right back into it, and the team managed just one win through four tires on a neutral court. SC might have stunk out loud to close the season, but it possesses by far the better overall defense that can give the Golden Eagles fits from beyond the arc. The reverse line movement is telling. Look for the Gamecocks style of play to overcome Marquette’s, and for Thornwell and company to squash the hopes of many hoping to see Wojo square off against Coach K in the second round.
College Basketball Odds: South Carolina 74, Marquette 69
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